Greek SYRIZA faces leadership crisis as Famellos and Polakis clash

President Sokratis Famellos of the SYRIZA party is under pressure from former MP Pavlos Polakis, who has demanded Famellos resign and called for internal elections if he does not step down. The party’s Central Committee is set to meet on 11 July to decide the leadership’s fate.

The dispute has triggered a wave of resignations among SYRIZA MPs. At least ten legislators, including Milti Zambaras, Simeon Kedikoglu and Vasilis Kokkalis, have announced they will leave the party, reflecting a broader split in which roughly two‑thirds of SYRIZA’s parliamentary group oppose a confrontational ballot against Alexis Tsipras’ ELAS.

The core issue is SYRIZA’s future direction: Famellos favours an autonomous path, while Polakis argues for closer cooperation with the broader progressive front led by Tsipras. The outcome of the upcoming committee vote could reshape SYRIZA’s leadership and its alignment in upcoming elections.