Greeces Main Opposition Party Splits Over Shift to Right-Wing Populism

Greeces main opposition party, Syriza, has split after a left-wing faction accused the partys leader of abandoning its core ideology for a sort of right-wing populism.

Greece's main opposition party, Syriza, suffered a split on Sunday when a left-wing faction announced it was breaking away. The faction, called Umbrella, accused the party's recently elected leader, Stefanos Kasselakis, of abandoning its core ideology for a sort of "right-wing populism."

Umbrella Faction Announces Departure

Umbrella, led by Euclid Tsakalotos, a former Finance Minister during Syriza's government of 2015-19, announced its departure with a blistering statement that accused Kasselakis of "Trumpian practices and right-leaning populism." The statement said that Kasselakis had "betrayed the party's values and principles" and that he was leading Syriza "down a dangerous path."

Syriza in Disarray After Election Defeat

The once-dominant party has been in disarray ever since its resounding defeat by conservative New Democracy in double elections in May and June. Already in opposition since 2019, Syriza had hoped to regain power. Instead, it was roundly disavowed, falling in the most recent election to 17.8%, compared to New Democracy's 40.6%. This result led longtime leader Alexis Tsipras to announce his resignation.

Split Becomes Inevitable

The split, which came after weeks of withering criticism of the leader from within the party, became inevitable in recent days when Kasselakis insisted he wanted to expel three prominent members of the Umbrella faction, all former ministers. When it became clear he might not get his way with party organs, Kasselakis said he would put the question to a referendum among party members. This proposal drew a rebuke even among his allies.

Kasselakis's Controversial Leadership

Kasselakis won the leadership election that followed Syriza's defeat at the polls in September. A political neophyte and US resident, with no connection to the party before he became a candidate for the May election, he came out of nowhere to win the contest. His style, based on social media presence and charisma, and his past as a former Goldman Sachs employee and shipowner, rankled with old-school leftists, who were also incensed with some of his positions, such as advocating stock options for employees, and his overall ideological vagueness.

Accusations and Counter-Accusations

The new leader's supporters, in turn, accused their rivals of having conspired to undermine former leader Tsipras in the run-up to the disastrous elections and even for years before. The current opinion polls, which show Syriza in a tight race for second place with the socialist Pasok party, intensified the malaise within Syriza.

Future of the Umbrella Faction

Although the Umbrella supporters have not clarified their future plans, they are expected to form a new left-wing political party. They also have the backing of most of Syriza's youth wing. Effie Achtsioglou, who leads her own faction, called 6+6, has decided to stay in Syriza, but her relations with Kasselakis are strained. She and her group issued their statement Sunday, after the left's departure, slamming Kasselakis's "deeply offensive and divisive speech" and accusing him of using the vocabulary of the alt-right.

The split in Syriza is a significant development in Greek politics. It remains to be seen how the party will fare in the next elections and whether it will be able to regain the support of its traditional left-wing voters. The Umbrella faction's departure is likely to further weaken Syriza and make it more difficult for the party to mount a credible challenge to New Democracy.