Another prominent SYRIZA figure, Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou, has announced her departure from the party. In a formal resignation letter, she stated that she sees a way forward—and renewed hope—in the newly formed ELAS (United Left Alliance), led by Alexis Tsipras.
A Call for Clarity and Courage
Xenogiannakopoulou emphasized in her letter the need for clear political positions and bold, transformative action. According to reports, she informed SYRIZA’s new leader, Sokratis Famellos, of her decision in a private conversation.
Full Resignation Statement
In her recent speech before SYRIZA’s Central Committee on 6 June, Xenogiannakopoulou highlighted the growing social hardship caused by government policies and the fragmentation affecting Greece’s progressive, center-left, and left-wing forces.
She acknowledged the serious effort—led by Famellos and collectively undertaken by SYRIZA-PS—to unite progressive and left-wing forces following his election. However, she noted that this initiative failed to gain sufficient traction over the past year and has since been overtaken by political developments and urgent societal needs.
She reaffirmed her view—expressed during that same Central Committee meeting—that Tsipras’s initiative and the formation of ELAS offer a viable path forward for Greece’s left, opening the possibility of progressive governance. She stressed that she cannot imagine SYRIZA-PS fielding a competing electoral list against Tsipras and ELAS.
“From 2018 until today—in government, in Parliament, and within the party—I have always sought to act institutionally, collectively, and constructively,” she wrote.
Concluding her statement, she added: “At critical moments, there is no room for superficial compromises. Now is the time for clarity and courageous leaps forward. With a strong sense of responsibility and consistency toward my beliefs, I declare my withdrawal from SYRIZA-PS. The political and social moment demands unity behind a strong, progressive-left pole—one capable once again of expressing a majority current for political and social change.”