Election night brought a surprising turn as the leader of the party stepped forward, signaling a new chapter for the Radical Left Coalition, known in Greek as Syriza. In 2015, Alexis Tsipras emerged as a national and European symbol, presenting a bold challenge to austerity policies that many argued had caused harm across the continent. Brussels watched closely as a political force opposed to harsh austerity gained momentum for the first time in modern European history.
“I felt justified, because the Greeks clearly showed their willingness to fight both inside and outside our country to show their strength and pride,” Tsipras remarked, aligning Greece with a broader sense of resistance and dignity.
Yet the years that followed brought setbacks. Syriza, the leftist party, faced a defeat at the hands of conservatives in the 2019 elections, and Kyriakos Mitsotakis soon solidified his role as prime minister. After his second electoral loss, Tsipras stepped away from politics.
Then, in September, a dramatic development occurred: Stefanos Kaselakis, a former banker with ties to Goldman Sachs, was elected Syriza’s new leader. His ascent was swift and unexpected, and it reshaped the party’s trajectory. The shift raised concerns about potential divisions within Syriza as power shifted toward a different leadership style.
“It is not clear whether a split will happen, but Syriza appears to have weakened in its ability to mobilize support,” noted Yannis Papageorgiu, a political scientist at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He pointed to two critical factors: the traditional left’s enduring influence and the implications of the new leadership for the party’s future cohesion and strategy.
new blood
The arrival of Kaselakis was abrupt. A month before his election, few in Greece had heard of him. He had recently moved to the country after a lengthy stay in the United States and had no prior party membership. His fresh profile and outsider stance helped him win Syriza’s primaries, underscoring a shift away from established political machinery toward a personality-driven approach.
“Kaselakis’s victory illustrated a plan to ascend to power that emphasized personal leadership and populist appeal rather than old ideological battles within the party,” explained Papageorgiu. The leadership change signaled a broader question about Syriza’s direction and its ability to unify a diverse left-wing base.
Since taking the helm, Kaselakis has moved to reshape the party by bringing in new voices and recalibrating the internal balance. Some senior figures were removed, others stepped down, and the party began to redefine its structure in a way that echoed contemporary shifts in other political movements where leadership style matters as much as policy positions.
danger around the corner
The political consequences of this transition have been visible. In the wake of July elections, Syriza’s polling numbers dipped, settling around the low teens. This marks a departure from the higher support levels Tsipras enjoyed in his last electoral cycle, highlighting the volatility that accompanies fresh leadership and changing voter priorities.
Meanwhile, New Democracy, led by Mitsotakis, maintained a strong position with significant backing. The party no longer faces a direct, evenly matched challenge from Syriza as before, and the traditional center-right coalition remains a dominant force in Greek politics.
Within the center-left, PASOK has seen a resurgence, drawing votes away from Syriza as some voters seek stability and a return to familiar governance. The evolving dynamics have left Syriza navigating a delicate balance between reformist zeal and the practical realities of coalition politics. Political analyst Papageorgiu offered a cautious assessment, noting how the party’s appeal to a broad electorate depends on its ability to address everyday concerns while maintaining a clear, principled stance on major issues.
The big question now centers on the upcoming European elections in June 2024. If Syriza falters and PASOK gains ground, Kaselakis could face pressure to reconsider his leadership. The outcome will influence Syriza’s capacity to translate electoral momentum into lasting influence on both national and European stages.