The exclusion of Stefanos Kasselakis from the process of electing a new president in SYRIZA was decided by the Party’s Central Committee
The proposal was “approved” by a large majority, while only 13 voted against.
Stefanos Kasselakis was previously confronted with officially presented proposals for both his elimination from SYRIZA and his exclusion from the party’s internal elections at a Central Committee “war” meeting.
The exclusion of Stefanos Kasselakis was requested by Thanassis Theocharopoulosjustifying his proposal as follows:
“Our collective bodies received an extrajudicial hearing and a threat to the Public Prosecutor’s Office from former president Stefanos Kasselakis. At the same time, he spoke about embezzlement, bandits and involvement in SYRIZA. And he does not accept the decisions of the collective bodies saying who is president despite the censorship with which he was deposed.
And I ask if anyone comes today and asks to be a candidate, accusing the party of involvement, embezzlement, criminals, sending extrajudicial accusations, threatening the party with prosecutors and then withdrawing and saying that everything was fine, and signing as president when he was not , we would accept your nomination. The answer is obviously no.
Descent
What also happened today with Kasselakis supporters who artificially fought so that there was no quorum and did not write while they were on the spot is called a weakening of the party’s democratic functions. Because they did not have a majority, they carried out these unthinkable actions. It didn’t work for them, they failed at that too.
In recent days we have seen sms about demonstrations outside the KE up to Stefanos Kasselakis himself to invite people to gather outside the conference room when it is held. As if KE and conferences are battle arenas. I’m sure they remind everyone of something. All these practices have nothing to do with the left and the democratic space. This is why the descent must stop here.
He doesn’t respect decisions
A motion to eliminate Stefanos Kasselakis was presented by Central Committee member, Thymios Georgopoulos.
Explaining his proposal, Thymios Georgopoulos said: “There are 17 reasons for Themis Moumoulidis’ request. 18 is the extra court that not only was not removed but should not have been sent. The 19th is the interview with Hatzinikolaou where he just didn’t ask for a change of government. The 20th is today’s attempt by the representatives, as they said themselves, to obstruct the Central Committee process. He does not respect any of the bodies’ decisions. He cannot be a member of SYRIZA.
The rejection of Stefanos Kasselakis’ candidacy was also requested by Yiannis Mouzalas in his statement at the SYRIZA Central Committee meeting.
The meeting of the SYRIZA Central Committee began 2.5 hours late and with tension inside and outside the room, even with discussions between Kasselakis’ friends and SYRIZA executives.
At the beginning of the meeting, the majority did not give the floor to Theodora Tzakri, who had previously refused to accredit herself and obtain a Central Committee membership card.
They tried to break the vote
Sources from the meeting leadership said: “They tried to break the majority and were unsuccessful because SYRIZA is here. Because they don’t know and haven’t learned about SYRIZA, nor are they interested in it. Just for Kasselakis’s jacket, which will make him president. Theodora Tzakri asked to speak without being registered as a speaker and without having been certified as present because she was among those absent who were trying not to have a majority in the body”.
According to information during the meeting, Ms. Gerovasili went to the podium and asked Ms. Tzakri to come down to get her card and speak. It should be noted that each accreditation increased the probability of having a quorum and, therefore, of holding the KE meeting
On the part of Stefanos Kasselakis, they stated that “The Central Committee refused to receive presentations on the list of names requested by Theodora Tzakri”.
“Frou-frou” and fights
Yiannis Mantzouranis – apparently photographing Stefanos Kasselakis – said in his speech that “with frou-frou and perfumes” politics is not carried out even “with the fronts and backs of the candidates”.
The incident also caused tension outside the hall where the meeting is held by supporters of Stefanos Kasselakis who attended and strongly expressed their protests, while at times arguing with people from the other wing.
However, there was also tension between Pavlos Polakis’ partner and Leonidas Behrakis. The latter in his post had spoken about “chickens”, with his companion Mr. Polakis, who thought he was photographing him, responding in a strong tone saying “I’m not a sister, I’m not a chicken, I’m going to eat your ear”.