Syriza figure Paúl Polakis vows showdown ahead of party congress

Paúl Polakis posted a terse message on social media before Syriza’s critical congress on Saturday, declaring that “the battle will be either with weapons or on foot” and urging all members to attend. He referenced the recent departures of George Karameros and Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou and warned that those who have publicly expressed intent to join the ELAS faction may be excluded.

Polakis signaled an intention to challenge current party president Socrates Famellos, hinting that the president could resign if his candidacy is defeated at the congress. He said he will elaborate his position in an upcoming television interview, intensifying the internal power struggle within Greece’s main left‑wing party.