Maria Karystianou vows internal purge as ELPIΔA faces member resignations

Party leader Maria Karystianou posted on X that the movement ELPIΔA for Democracy is undergoing a “cleaning” process. She accused a handful of “few and dishonest” insiders of extortion, candidate‑buying, underground ballot‑forming and internal “leadership” manoeuvres, warning that the party will reorganise and continue its agenda.

Her statements came after a series of high‑profile departures. Former analyst Vasilis Kokotsakis, retired priest Athanasios Papanikolaou and former athlete‑coach Kostas Vambakas publicly left, citing disagreements with the party’s direction. Two additional members from Crete, Achilleas Rompogianakis and Angeliki Lenakaki, also announced their exit, stating that the central leadership no longer matched their values. Karystianou reaffirmed the party’s founding vision of a “free, upright Greece” and pledged to uphold it despite the resignations.