2023 Syriza leadership election

A leadership election was held in September 2023 within Syriza after the resignation of leader Alexis Tsipras following the June 2023 legislative election.[3] It was won by Stefanos Kasselakis after two rounds of voting.[2]

2023 Syriza leadership election
17 September 2023 (first round)
24 September 2023 (second round)
Opinion polls
Turnoutc. 145,000 (first round)[1]
c. 134,000 (second round)[2]
 
Candidate Stefanos Kasselakis Effie Achtsioglou Euclid Tsakalotos
Popular vote 66,156
(round one)		 53,292
(round one)		 13,156
First round 44.91% 36.18% 8.93%
Second round 55.98% 44.02% Eliminated
 
Candidate Nikos Pappas Stefanos Tzoumakas
Popular vote 12,787 1,917
First round 8.68% 1.3%
Second round Eliminated Eliminated
President of Syriza before election

Alexis Tsipras

 Elected President of Syriza

Stefanos Kasselakis

Background

After the June 2023 Greek legislative election, Syriza received a record low percentage of 17.83% since the May 2012 Greek legislative election.[4] Tsipras announced his resignation 4 days after the elections on 29 June 2023. He stated that the party needs, "profound renewal and refoundation".[5] Sokrates Famellos took his place as president of the parliamentary group.[6]

All party members of Syriza who were aged 15-years-old and above before 17 September 2023 could vote in the leadership election.[7]

Candidates

Effie Achtsioglou announced her intention to run for presidency on 12 July from the Athens Conservatoire.[8] A day later, Euclid Tsakalotos announced his candidacy.[9] Nikos Pappas announced his candidacy during the central committee’s meeting, on 15 July.[10] Stefanos Tzoumakas, member of the Executive Committee also announced his candidacy during the central committee meeting.[11] In August 2023, Stefanos Kasselakis announced that he would be running in the election.[12]

Opinion polls

Leadership Election voting intention by Metron Analysis for MEGA TV:[13]

  • Stefanos Kasselakis: 39%
  • Effie Achtsioglou: 31%
  • Euclid Tsakalotos: 13%
  • Nikos Pappas: 3%
  • Stefanos Tzoumakas: 3%

Results

Kasselakis was the top vote-getter in the first round of the leadership contest on 17 September 2023 with Effie Achtsioglou in second place.[14]

CandidateFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Stefanos Kasselakis66,15644.9174,28555.98
Effie Achtsioglou53,29236.1858,42544.02
Euclid Tsakalotos13,1568.93
Nikos Pappas12,7878.68
Stefanos Tzoumakas1,9171.30
Total147,308100.00132,710100.00
Valid votes147,30898.98132,71098.73
Invalid/blank votes1,5131.021,7101.27
Total votes148,821100.00134,420100.00
Source: [15] [16]

As no candidate received over 50% of the vote in the first round there was a run-off election between the top two candidates - Stefanos Kasselakis and Effie Achtsioglou - on 24 September 2023.

In the second round Kasselakis received 55.98% of the vote and Achtsioglou received 44.02%, giving Kasselakis the victory. Kasselakis spoke of wanting Syriza to emulate the U.S. Democratic Party and move to the centre-left.[2]

References
  1. Michalopoulos, Sarantis (18 September 2023). "'Newcomer' wins first round of Greece's left elections". EURACTIV. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  2. Smith, Helena (25 September 2023). "Stefanos Kasselakis: ex-banker who lit up Greek politics to lead Syriza". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  3. Smith, Helena (29 June 2023). "Alexis Tsipras steps down as Syriza leader after Greek election rout". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  4. "Greece's conservatives win election majority to secure second term". POLITICO. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  5. "Greek opposition leader Tsipras resigns as Syriza chief after election defeat". POLITICO. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  6. "Famellos unanimously president of SYRIZA parliamentary group". Hellasjournal.com. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  7. Kokkinidis, Tasos (17 September 2023). "The Five Candidates Vowing to Reverse SYRIZA's Decline in Greece". Greek Reporter. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  8. Newsroom. "Έφη Αχτσιόγλου: Στο Ωδείο Αθηνών θα ανακοινώσει αύριο την υποψηφιότητά της για την ηγεσία του ΣΥΡΙΖΑ". www.ieidiseis.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  9. Newsroom (14 July 2023). "Euclid Tsakalotos announces candidacy for SYRIZA leadership, advocates for an inclusive Left | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  10. Newsroom (15 July 2023). "Nikos Pappas announces candidacy for SYRIZA leadership | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  11. Costu, Safak (15 July 2023). "SYRIZA Leadership Race Heats Up: Stefanos Tzoumakas Throws Hat into Ring". BNN Breaking. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  12. "Kasselakis announced he is running for Syriza leadership". Ta Nea. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  13. "https://twitter.com/GreeceElects/status/1702739242743419174". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 15 September 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  14. "SYRIZA: Kasselakis, Achtsioglou headed to a runoff". ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  15. "Twitter Greece Elects: SYRIZA-PS Leadership Election Final Results". Twitter Greece Elects. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  16. https://www.newsit.gr/politikh/ekloges-syriza-ta-telika-apotelesmata-tis-kalpis/3867576/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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