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15 clusters · 84 sources · 46 days · First seen · Last updated

SYRIZA leadership turmoil and parliamentary decline

Overview

The wave of SYRIZA departures that began in early July 2026 has severely diminished the party’s parliamentary presence. Following the resignation of MP George Karameros and Katerina Notopoulou, and the departure of parliamentary group secretary Diōnysēs Kalamatiānós, the party faced a massive exodus. By mid-July, three more MPs—Andreas Panagiotopoulos, George Gavrilos, and George Psychogios—became independents, briefly dropping SYRIZA to fourth place in parliament.

Internal leadership disputes intensified as Rena Dourou took over as parliamentary leader. High-profile resignations included deputy spokesperson Foivos Tsiklias, who criticized the party for turning inward, and parliamentary group director George Bakis, who cited a lack of collective effort. Other members, such as Symeon Kedikoglu and Vasilis Kokkalis, resigned their seats to join the Greek Left Alliance (ELAS), founded by former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

By late July, the party’s parliamentary group had fallen to single digits. Amidst this turmoil, the group boycotted the annual “Restoration of Democracy” ceremony, protesting perceived nostalgia for the 1967–1974 junta. Former chairman Socrates Famellos also left to sit as an independent, accusing the party of abandoning left-wing values.

In August, the party moved to restructure. Rena Dourou, president of the SYRIZA Parliamentary Group, announced the removal of MP Nina Kasimati from the group, describing it as a ‘political and institutional decision’ due to Kasimati’s prolonged absence from party activities and lack of involvement in parliamentary oversight. Dourou also issued a deadline for Olga Gerovasili to formally resign her seat by August 24. To bolster its numbers, Dourou has issued an open call for independent MPs previously elected under the SYRIZA banner to return to the group.

Entities

SYRIZA · MyELAS · Olga Gerovasilis · Nina Kasimati · Giorgos Karameros

Timeline

  1. 25 days ago

    [POLITICS] 13 sources
    SYRIZA removes Nina Kasimati from parliamentary group

    SYRIZA's parliamentary group leader Rena Dourou has removed MP Nina Kasimati from the group and requested that Olga Gerovasili surrender her seat by August 24 as part of a party reorganization.

  2. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Former MP Giorgos Karameros Joins Greek Left Alliance (ELAS)

    Former MP Giorgos Karameros left Syriza and registered as a regular member of the Greek Left Alliance (ELAS) led by Alexis Tsipras, announcing it in a short video posted on July 27.

  3. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 29 sources
    SYRIZA splits as parliamentary group boycotts democracy ceremony and former leader Famellos becomes independent

    SYRIZA’s parliamentary group boycotted the July 24 democracy ceremony, while former leader Socrates Famellos left the party to sit as an independent, highlighting internal rifts.

  4. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 15 sources
    SYRIZA MPs Samon Kedikoglou and Vasilis Kokkalis resign from Parliament

    SYRIZA MPs Samon Kedikoglou (Euboea) and Vasilis Kokkalis (Larissa) have resigned from parliament, citing personal principles and adverse political conditions, prompting seat‑replacement processes.

  5. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    SYRIZA Party Hits Record Low in Greek Parliament

    SYRIZA, once holding 47 seats, has plunged to single digits as resignations and defections swell independent ex‑members over 52, sparking leadership and cohesion challenges in Greece.

  6. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 10 sources
    Greece's Syriza parliamentary group shrinks as MPs turn independent

    Syriza's parliamentary group fell to 11 MPs after several members, including Miltos Zampáras, Diodysios Kalamatanios and Olga Gerobasile, became independents; a leadership vote is pending.

  7. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    George Bakis resigns as director of SYRIZA parliamentary group

    George Bakis stepped down as director of SYRIZA's parliamentary group, citing personal strategies and practices contrary to leftist values after party president Sotiris Famellos resigned.

  8. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Foivos Tsiklias resigns as SYRIZA deputy spokesperson

    Foivos Tsiklias quit as SYRIZA deputy spokesperson, citing the party's inward focus, lack of a responsive plan and his unwillingness to fuel further division.

  9. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Stefanos Kasselakis offers recommendation letters to SYRIZA MPs who quit

    Stefanos Kasselakis mocked SYRIZA resignations, saying members are jumping from a sinking ship and offered to write recommendation letters for their private‑sector jobs.

  10. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 13 sources
    Symeon Kedikoglu resigns from SYRIZA, joins ELAS

    SYRIZA MP Symeon Kedikoglu resigns, citing principle‑based reasons, and aligns with Alexis Tsipras’s new ELAS party, planning to submit his parliamentary resignation soon.

  11. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 32 sources
    Greece's SYRIZA party loses three MPs, drops to fourth in parliament

    Three SYRIZA MPs left the party to sit as independents, shrinking the parliamentary group to 20 seats and pushing it to fourth place behind KKE, amid broader resignations and a leadership scramble.

  12. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Greek MP George Karameros resigns to join Tsipras' EL.A.S. alliance

    Greek MP George Karameros resigns from SYRIZA, citing support for Alex Tsipras' new EL.A.S. alliance; his seat will be taken by the next SYRIZA candidate.

  13. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 10 sources
    Syriza parliamentary group secretary Diōnysēs Kalamatiānós resigns

    Syriza MP Diōnysēs Kalamatiānós resigns as parliamentary group secretary, citing a conscious, mature decision, amid broader party upheaval after leader Sokratis Famelos stepped down.

  14. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Katerina Notopoulou resigns as SYRIZA MP from Thessaloniki constituency

    Katerina Notopoulou quit as SYRIZA MP for Thessaloniki A on 8 July 2026, notifying party leader and the speaker; her seat will be taken by ex‑foreign minister Giannis Amanatidis ahead of a key party meeting.

  15. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Greek politics sees ELAS secretary visit Thessaloniki and SYRIZA MP resigns

    ELAS secretary Milti Hatzigiannakis toured Thessaloniki, meeting officials after a major fire, while SYRIZA MP George Karameros resigned, citing support for Alexis Tsipras and local alignment.

Sources

alfavita.gr · alphatv.gr · argolikeseidhseis.gr · athensmagazine.gr · athina984.gr · bizznews.gr · businessdaily.gr · capital.gr · cnn.gr · cyclades24.gr · dikaiologitika.gr · dimokratianews.gr · dnews.gr · e-ptolemeos.gr · e-thessalia.gr · e-typos.com · e-vima.gr · efsyn.gr · eleftherostypos.gr · emvolos.gr · enikos.gr · ertnews.gr · ethnos.gr · fimotro.gr · flamis.gr · flash.gr · fonimaleviziou.gr · fortunegreece.com · hellenicshippingnews.com · iefimerida.gr · ieidiseis.gr · insider.gr · kalavrytanews.com · karvasaras.gr · koutipandoras.gr · larissanet.gr · larissapress.gr · lawandorder.gr · lifo.gr · lykavitos.gr · madata.gr · megatv.com · militaire.gr · mononews.gr · myportal.gr · news.gr · newsbeast.gr · newsbomb.gr

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history