SYRIZA is entering a new cycle of introversion after the online “letter of forgiveness” given by Stefanos Kasselakis to Pavlos Polakis, and while the number of people in Koumoundourou increases, those who anticipate that the day of the spectacular return of the Chania MP to the party’s KO is not far away.
Just two and twenty-four hours after Mr. Polakis’ indecent behavior in Parliament, which led to his “half elimination” (from KO and not from the party), Mr. Kasselakis retaliated and verbally reinstated the Chania MP.
With his midnight post, the SYRIZA president not only praised Mr. Polakis, describing his contribution to SYRIZA as “non-negotiable,” but also denounced those who had successfully leaked information against him, accusing them of “deliberately and daily damaging the party politically (and not behaviorally) to serve their petty ambitions.”
Essentially, Kasselakis has shown that not only does he not intend to proceed with the complete elimination of Mr Polakis, but also that the discussion about the return of the Chania MP to the KO will most likely be the ground for a new settlement of accounts in the divided SYRIZA.
Polaki’s return to KO scenarios are strengthening
Several SYRIZA executives are already hinting, both publicly and behind the scenes, that Mr Kasselakis will sooner or later return Mr Polakis to the party’s KO. “If it is later decided that Mr Polakis will return to the Parliamentary Group, I will welcome him with a warm embrace,” said MEP Andreas Panagiotopoulos. After all, Polakis himself has arranged a “meeting” with the leadership at the party congress in the autumn, which effectively implies that if he has not returned to the KO by then, he will open Aeolos’ bag, through his followers, in critical votes.
On the other hand, other executives warn that a possible further retreat by the leadership over Pavlos Polakis’s behavior will further erode the party’s credibility. Indeed, some of them warn Mr. Kasselakis of the risk of “ridiculing” the party if Mr. Polakis remains in SYRIZA’s ranks.
Zachariadis: He doesn’t fit into SYRIZA like Polakis fits into politics
Distancing himself from Kasselakis, who separated Polakis’s “behaviour” in Parliament from his politics, Kostas Zachariadis responded that “questions of behaviour are questions of politics”. “If we do not make clear decisions on this issue, there is a serious risk of making a mockery of the space,” the member of the Political Secretariat noted, adding: “with the way Mr Polakis is politically and partisanly, he does not fit into SYRIZA.”
Gerovasili: Polakis must not stay half-hearted
Parliamentary Deputy Speaker Olga Gerovasili also sent a message in favor of completing Polakis’s dismissal from the party. In particular, she stated in an interview that she agrees with the Chania MP’s resignation from KO, “as long as it is complete and not half-hearted.”
“Respect for one’s political opponent is not contrary to the militancy required by the defender of justice for many. Often, in fact, by doing the opposite, ND has the opportunity to distract itself from the unjust policies it implements,” Ms. Gerovasili added.