Stefanos Kasselakis delivered a sharp response to Theodora Tzakri’s departure from the Democrats, affirming that his party will run independently in the upcoming elections. Speaking on SKAI TV, Kasselakis referred to Tzakri’s exit and stated: “The public feels disgust toward football-style transfers of political ‘players’.”
Independence as Core Strategy
He went on to rule out any merger or subordination of the Democrats under PASOK or under Alexis Tsipras — citing Tsipras’s recent rhetoric on ‘patriotic taxes’ and similar proposals as incompatible with the Democrats’ direction. “Becoming a component of PASOK or falling under Alexis Tsipras — who speaks of patriotic taxes and such nonsense — is not our strategy,” Kasselakis emphasized, reiterating: “The Democrats will go to the elections autonomously.”
Criticism of Unilateral Departure
Kasselakis expressed disappointment over the manner of Tzakri’s exit, noting it was regrettable that, despite being offered twice in writing the chance to issue a joint resignation statement — and after direct contact from his office — she opted instead for a unilateral withdrawal without public clarification. He added that this approach “demonstrates a complete lack of respect toward the party’s members.”