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2026-08-27 04:54 UTC → 2026-08-28 04:25 UTC ·
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In early August, EL.A.S leader Alexis Tsipras announced that the party was finalising a detailed, cost‑estimated election programme to be unveiled at the September parliamentary election (DETh). The plan focused on strengthening the social state, tax justice and fiscal stability, with specific measures on housing, education and energy costs. The programme is built on three pillars: strengthening the social state, ensuring tax justice, and maintaining fiscal stability. Specific proposals include creating a public agency to manage risky housing loans, lowering housing costs, and implementing education reforms such as abolishing nationwide exams and restructuring non‑state universities. The party aims to differentiate itself from the ruling New Democracy by emphasizing realistic budgeting and rapid implementation. A week later, Tsipras scheduled two high‑profile appearances at the Thessaloniki International Fair: a presentation of the economic programme on 2 September, three days before Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s visit, and a follow‑up press conference on 9 September after the prime minister’s speech. The dual events were framed as a “political encirclement” to set the policy agenda ahead of the PM and to respond afterward, underscoring EL.A.S’s strategy to position itself as the main opposition force. By late August, Tsipras was engaged in intensive meetings to finalize the SYRIZA political program for its September 2 presentation. The party has signaled an escalation in political confrontation with the government; following statements from a government spokesperson, SYRIZA claimed that Prime Minister Mitsotakis “fears comparisons between integrity and corruption,” suggesting a lack of confidence in the current administration. As the September 2 presentation in Thessaloniki approaches, Tsipras is working to establish a four-year vision that balances social welfare—including a potential ‘13th pension’—with fiscal stability. A central challenge remains proving the program is properly costed and ensuring tax redistributions do not increase the burden on the middle class. In late August, Tsipras continued finalizing the economic program, which is being developed with key contributors Giorgos Chouliarakis, Dimitris Liakos, and Fragiskos Koutentakis. The plan seeks to position the Greek Left Alliance (ELA) as a viable alternative for governance by focusing on increasing disposable income and addressing the cost-of-living crisis, housing, and energy issues. To broaden the party’s appeal, Tsipras has engaged in discussions with the General Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen, and Merchants of Greece (GSVEE) and the Athens Chamber of Commerce. These meetings focused on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and self-employed professionals through proposed tax reforms, such as the abolition of the professional fee, improved access to financing, and better management of private debt. The strategic rollout at the Thessaloniki International Fair remains centered on two key dates: the economic program presentation on September 2 and a follow-up press conference at the Vellidio Conference Center on September 9. This timing is intended to set the political agenda ahead of other major parties, including PASOK.