“A large part of the base feels disappointed, but we will proceed with the reconstruction of the space” said the Vice-President of the Parliament, Olga Gerovasili, speaking on Attica TV ahead of the Congress and the election of a new president, commenting on developments in the official opposition party.
Ahead of tomorrow’s meeting of the Political Secretariat, “these are voted and expired issues” he commented regarding the schedule of internal party elections, while reminding that the upcoming Congress of the party “is an extraordinary Congress. So, on the issue that comes from the Central Committee”, regarding the possibility that Stefanos Kasselakis will run for his term.
“The Conference is an organized discussion, not everyone can bring an issue and put it to a vote” continued Mrs. Gerovasili, saying that “this is the procedure and must be followed”, while “if a majority in the conference determines a bit like that a bit otherwise, things are certainly possible. But that will be decided by the presidency at that time”, as he said, without ruling out any related discussion.
Kasselakis calls for thuggery
Referring to the meaning of the Congress, the Vice-President of the Parliament estimated that “there will be the end of this whole bad period for SYRIZA“, so that after that “the political discussion can take place, which is receding”. “Is this political behavior? I don’t understand” replied Mrs. Gerovasili about the request “let me lose” formulated by Mr. Kasselakis, whom she called as calling for thuggery.
“I remind you that Mr. Kasselakis himself also invites people outside the Conference area. What does he mean and who does he threaten? In which party would all this happen and the abuser appear as the victim?’ asked the Vice-President of the Parliament, adding that “Stefanos Kasselakis should not be a candidate in the field because he has nothing to do with SYRIZA. With another party? Of course”. In addition, he accused the former President of SYRIZA PS of “setting up a parallel mechanism” and replied that “it is leaking that people are not registering. There is no such thing” in terms of registrations in isyriza.
“Kasselistas” are “looking for another party”
Asked to comment on the photo of Kilkis MP Petros Pappa with PASOK President Nikos Androulakis in Thessaloniki, Mrs Gerovasili stated that “it’s not bad to be photographed with someone”, but “it’s not exactly the same. I don’t know what exactly our colleague is implying” pointed out the Vice-President of the Parliament, while she estimated that in case of Mr. Kasselakis’s victory, some MPs will “have the upper hand”. “However, if Stefanos Kasselakis does not exist, they may be looking for another party”, as he noted, meaningfully adding about the departure of the New Left MPs “what they themselves were saying about all this”.
We will not allow the dissolution of SYRIZA
Following this, “I believe that Stefanos Kasselakis knows that he has no place in SYRIZA” observed Olga Gerovasili, to add that “it will be a bad development” if there is a majority in favor of his candidacy at the Congress. At the same time, “we will not allow and the people of SYRIZA will not allow the alteration and dissolution of this space”, said the Vice-President of the Parliament, while when asked about the possible return of the New Left MPs, “it does not depend on the moment. At this moment, SYRIZA, the members of SYRIZA and the world of SYRIZA through democratic processes, congress and elections will rebuild its space”, as he said.
“Very quickly this will end” she predicted and “we will continue healthy further”, as she emphasized. Regarding whether Stefanos Kasselakis can be elected as a Member of Parliament, “he is a member of the party, he has not been deleted”, explained the Vice-President of the Parliament.
About the scenarios for a new Tsipras party
Finally, regarding the scenarios that want the former Prime Minister and President of the party, Alexis Tsipras to proceed with the establishment of a new party, Mrs. Gerovasili responded that “all these scenarios that I read after the last and very successful event in Piraeus. What I believe is that these scenarios are set up with the assumption that the political system in the country and other systems have a huge fear of a possible return of Alexis Tsipras. So, all the scenarios are set up based on fear and not because there really are scenarios”, Mrs. Gerovasili concluded.
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**Interview with Olga Gerovasili, Vice-President of the Hellenic Parliament**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Ms. Gerovasili. There has been a notable sense of disappointment within the SYRIZA base lately. How do you plan to address these feelings as the party prepares for its upcoming Congress?
**Olga Gerovasili:** Thank you for having me. Yes, I acknowledge that many supporters feel disheartened. However, I firmly believe that the upcoming Congress represents an opportunity for us to reconstruct and rejuvenate our party. It’s imperative that we engage in organized discussions that will guide our future direction.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the significance of organized discussions. Can you elaborate on what the Congress will entail regarding internal elections?
**Olga Gerovasili:** Absolutely. The Congress will not be a free-for-all; we need to follow established procedures. Only issues approved by the Central Committee will be discussed. It’s crucial for the integrity of our party that we adhere to this. While discussions can lead to varying perspectives, the final decisions will be made by the presidency during the Congress.
**Interviewer:** Recently, there have been tensions regarding the candidacy of Stefanos Kasselakis. What’s your view on his remarks about the Congress, particularly his controversial statement about “thuggery”?
**Olga Gerovasili:** His comments were not only inappropriate but baffling. Calling for what he termed “thuggery” is not political behavior we condone or understand. It raises questions about his intentions and the atmosphere he wishes to cultivate within SYRIZA. I am concerned he does not have the party’s interests at heart, nor does he truly represent our values.
**Interviewer:** Given the current landscape, do you think the internal divisions could lead to members considering switching parties?
**Olga Gerovasili:** It’s a possibility. There are factions within SYRIZA, commonly referred to as “Kasselistas,” who are expressing dissatisfaction. If they feel that their vision does not align with the core mission of SYRIZA, they may very well seek affiliation elsewhere. We must work diligently to unify our party and reaffirm our commitment to our constituents.
**Interviewer:** In light of all this, what do you see as the next steps for SYRIZA moving forward?
**Olga Gerovasili:** Our immediate focus will be the Congress. It is our chance to turn this page and end what many see as a troubling chapter for SYRIZA. From there, we will engage in constructive political discourse to unite our party and rally around a common vision for the future. It’s time for us to reconnect with the base and ensure that their voices are heard in shaping our policies.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Ms. Gerovasili, for sharing your insights today. We look forward to seeing how SYRIZA evolves in the coming months.
**Olga Gerovasili:** Thank you for having me.
