Socrates Famellos, president of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance (SYRIZA-PA), addressed questions regarding a potential new party led by Alexis Tsipras during a visit to Pyrgos, Ilia. Speaking under the campaign slogan “Progressive Greece”, Famellos emphasized that a strong and proactive SYRIZA-PA is both a catalyst and guarantor for the country’s progressive future.
Responding to whether SYRIZA would cooperate with a possible Tsipras party, Famellos stated:
“First of all, politics cannot be built on assumptions. We have no time for waiting. Our approach is to take initiative, and in these initiatives, no one is excluded. Especially when we share so many common struggles and a strong legacy within SYRIZA-PA, both from the government under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and from all of us with Alexis.”
Famellos highlighted that the Tsipras-led initiative has a different approach to parliamentary group participation. Nevertheless, he stressed that SYRIZA-PA does not view it as opposition and believes that achieving a progressive Greece requires broader cooperation, including beyond the party’s formal boundaries.
He criticized the current government, declaring that “there is no future with this government. Greece deserves a progressive path”, and reiterated SYRIZA’s aim to involve citizens directly in driving political change. Famellos also underlined the urgency of cooperation against Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, stating that preparations for post-election alliances cannot wait.
On labor issues, Famellos condemned the controversial “13-hour work bill”, describing it as an attack on workers’ rights and a reflection of Mitsotakis’ favoring of oligopolies. He called for its immediate withdrawal and the establishment of collective agreements ensuring fair wages.
Famellos did not hesitate to extend criticism to the Prime Minister on other fronts, labeling him “the leader of kleptocracy”, citing alleged corruption affecting workers, farmers, artisans, and retirees. He also criticized the government’s handling of the Tempi tragedy investigation, claiming that legal and forensic procedures were obstructed.
In foreign affairs, Famellos accused the government of a weak diplomatic approach, pointing to the failed meeting with Turkish President Erdogan in New York, which he described as unprepared and purely for appearances. He also touched on domestic political scandals, particularly the OPEKEPE case, calling it a “blue scandal” engineered to defraud honest Greek farmers of a billion euros.
Famellos concluded by reiterating SYRIZA’s commitment to proactive, inclusive politics that aims to deliver a progressive and just Greece.
