2023 Syriza leadership election

2023 Syriza leadership election
← 2022 17 September 2023 (first round)
24 September 2023 (second round)
Opinion polls
Turnoutc. 145,000 (first round)[1]
c. 134,000 (second round)[2]
 
Candidate Stefanos Kasselakis Effie Achtsioglou Euclid Tsakalotos
Popular vote 66,156
(round one) 		53,292
(round one) 		13,156
First round 44.91% 36.18% 8.93%
Second round 55.98% 44.02% Eliminated
 
Candidate Nikos Pappas Stefanos Tzoumakas
Popular vote 12,787 1,917
First round 8.68% 1.3%
Second round Eliminated Eliminated
President of Syriza before election

Alexis Tsipras

 Elected President of Syriza

Stefanos Kasselakis

A leadership election was held in September 2023 within Syriza after the resignation of leader Alexis Tsipras following the June 2023 legislative election.[3] It was won by Stefanos Kasselakis after two rounds of voting.[2]

Background

After the June 2023 Greek legislative election, Syriza received a record low percentage of 17.83% since the May 2012 Greek legislative election.[4] Tsipras announced his resignation 4 days after the elections on 29 June 2023. He stated that the party needs, "profound renewal and refoundation".[5] Sokrates Famellos took his place as president of the parliamentary group.[6]

All party members of Syriza who were aged 15-years-old and above before 17 September 2023 could vote in the leadership election.[7]

Candidates

Effie Achtsioglou announced her intention to run for presidency on 12 July from the Athens Conservatoire.[8] A day later, Euclid Tsakalotos announced his candidacy.[9] Nikos Pappas announced his candidacy during the central committee’s meeting, on 15 July.[10] Stefanos Tzoumakas, member of the Executive Committee also announced his candidacy during the central committee meeting.[11] In August 2023, Stefanos Kasselakis announced that he would be running in the election.[12]

Opinion polls

Leadership Election voting intention by Metron Analysis for MEGA TV:[13]

  • Stefanos Kasselakis: 39%
  • Effie Achtsioglou: 31%
  • Euclid Tsakalotos: 13%
  • Nikos Pappas: 3%
  • Stefanos Tzoumakas: 3%

Results

Kasselakis was the top vote-getter in the first round of the leadership contest on 17 September 2023 with Effie Achtsioglou in second place.[14]

CandidateFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Stefanos Kasselakis66,15644.9174,28555.98
Effie Achtsioglou53,29236.1858,42544.02
Euclid Tsakalotos13,1568.93
Nikos Pappas12,7878.68
Stefanos Tzoumakas1,9171.30
Total147,308100.00132,710100.00
Valid votes147,30898.98132,71098.73
Invalid/blank votes1,5131.021,7101.27
Total votes148,821100.00134,420100.00
Source: [15] [16]

As no candidate received over 50% of the vote in the first round there was a run-off election between the top two candidates - Stefanos Kasselakis and Effie Achtsioglou - on 24 September 2023.

In the second round Kasselakis received 55.98% of the vote and Achtsioglou received 44.02%, giving Kasselakis the victory. Kasselakis spoke of wanting Syriza to emulate the U.S. Democratic Party and move to the centre-left.[2]

References

  1. ^ Michalopoulos, Sarantis (18 September 2023). "'Newcomer' wins first round of Greece's left elections". Euractiv. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Smith, Helena (25 September 2023). "Stefanos Kasselakis: ex-banker who lit up Greek politics to lead Syriza". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  3. ^ Smith, Helena (29 June 2023). "Alexis Tsipras steps down as Syriza leader after Greek election rout". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Greece's conservatives win election majority to secure second term". Politico. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Greek opposition leader Tsipras resigns as Syriza chief after election defeat". Politico. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Famellos unanimously president of Syriza parliamentary group". Hellasjournal.com. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  7. ^ Kokkinidis, Tasos (17 September 2023). "The Five Candidates Vowing to Reverse Syriza's Decline in Greece". Greek Reporter. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  8. ^ Newsroom. "Έφη Αχτσιόγλου: Στο Ωδείο Αθηνών θα ανακοινώσει αύριο την υποψηφιότητά της για την ηγεσία του Συριζα". www.ieidiseis.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  9. ^ Newsroom (14 July 2023). "Euclid Tsakalotos announces candidacy for SYRIZA leadership, advocates for an inclusive Left | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  10. ^ Newsroom (15 July 2023). "Nikos Pappas announces candidacy for SYRIZA leadership | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  11. ^ Costu, Safak (15 July 2023). "SYRIZA Leadership Race Heats Up: Stefanos Tzoumakas Throws Hat into Ring". BNN Breaking. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Kasselakis announced he is running for Syriza leadership". Ta Nea. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  13. ^ "https://twitter.com/GreeceElects/status/1702739242743419174". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 15 September 2023. {cite web}: External link in |title= (help)
  14. ^ "Syriza: Kasselakis, Achtsioglou headed to a runoff". ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Twitter Greece Elects: SYRIZA-PS Leadership Election Final Results". Twitter Greece Elects. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Εκλογές Συριζα: Τα τελικά αποτελέσματα της κάλπης". 25 September 2023.