Alexis Tsipras shapes new ELAS party with tight structure and veteran appointments

The Greek Left Alliance (ELAS), founded by former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, is being organized with a streamlined hierarchy aimed at the next elections. The party will operate with temporary bodies that bear Tsipras’s imprint, postponing its founding congress until after the vote. Its top organ, the National Council, is projected to have 300‑350 members, while a Political Committee will be limited to up to 75 people and a central coordinating team of about 10‑15 staff will handle daily operations.

Tsipras has appointed Milti Hatzigiannakis as the party secretary, noting Hatzigiannakis’s prior service as a SYRIZA MP from 2019‑2023 – a fact omitted from the announcement. The announced “strong team” also includes former SYRIZA ministers such as George Vasileiadis (Sports), Kostas Gavroglo (Education), and Michalis Kalogirou (Justice), along with other ex‑SYRIZA officials. The composition signals Tsipras’s intent to build a new, agile party while relying on experienced former allies.