“The ELAS of Greece — born just weeks ago — is taking a major step today with the formation of its first National Council,” said Alexis Tsipras during the inaugural session of ELAS’s National Council.
A New Beginning, A Historic Responsibility
Tsipras emphasized at the first meeting: “We are all here today with a dual sentiment. On one hand, the joy of a new beginning — a fresh start, a renewed and ambitious effort for the homeland we deserve. On the other, the weight of a profound historical responsibility.”
“We did not found yet another political party. We are not here to add one more voice to the noise of politics. We gathered because we believe Greece needs a new beginning. Today, together, we are launching that new beginning — from society, with society, and for society. From this moment, our journey begins toward a new, transformative change — toward a New Metapolitefsi, toward the regeneration of Greece. Our symbol is our homeland. ELAS is our name.”
Guided by History, Principles, and Shared Struggles
Tsipras stressed that “our compass is history, our principles, and our ideals. We are united by the struggles of our grandparents and grandparents-in-law, by those of our parents, and by every generation that refused to compromise with dictatorship, occupation, or oppression — all those who fought so that we could live freely today, in a democracy.”
“But now it is our generation’s turn. History does not ask us to repeat the struggles of previous generations. It asks us to offer our own response to the challenges of our time. The first Metapolitefsi restored democracy after seven years of dictatorship. Fifty years later, our generation has a different mission: to restore citizens’ trust in democracy — and to expand it. Because today, democracy is not tested by tanks. It is tested when citizens feel institutions are failing them; when justice fails to inspire confidence; when power evades accountability; when corruption is normalized; when politics loses its moral substance.”
“The social contract that united Greeks after democracy’s restoration has fractured. The bond of trust between citizen and state has been wounded. That is why changing governments alone is no longer enough. It is time to transform politics itself. Political change is insufficient — what we need is a radical political transformation: a new way of governing the country, a new way of how the state functions, a new way of exercising power, and a new political system altogether. It is time to place the great ‘We’ above the narrow ‘I’.”
Democracy, Homeland, and Politics as Service
The ELAS president underscored that we must remember: “Democracy means the common good over personal interest. Homeland means shared responsibility. Politics means service. We must honor everything that unites us — and leave behind everything that divides us.”