A sharp on-air exchange between PASOK MP Nadia Giannakopoulou and Anna Papadopoulou, deputy press spokesperson for Alexis Tsipras’s new political coalition ELAS (Hellenic Left Alliance), highlighted the intensifying rivalry between the two left-leaning parties. The confrontation took place during a SKAI TV panel discussion on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, centered on political integrity.
‘You Were in PASOK Too’
Papadopoulou argued that ELAS — formed by former SYRIZA members and others — has the legitimacy to speak about integrity. In response, Giannakopoulou immediately pointed out Papadopoulou’s own political background, noting her prior affiliation with PASOK. When Papadopoulou told Giannakopoulou, ‘We can say it — we can talk about integrity,’ the moderator asked whether PASOK could make the same claim. Papadopoulou deferred the question to Giannakopoulou, saying, ‘That’s for Ms. Giannakopoulou to answer.’
Giannakopoulou didn’t let the moment pass: ‘You could answer that too, Anna — because you were in PASOK as well.’
A Symbolic Tension
The remark encapsulated a broader political unease surrounding personnel shifts from PASOK — historically associated with Charilaos Trikoupis — to ELAS. What began as a discussion on corruption quickly pivoted to personal political trajectories and who holds the moral authority to invoke integrity.
The incident unfolded against the backdrop of recent opinion polls that have sharpened competition within the opposition space. PASOK and ELAS are no longer merely vying for voters — they’re competing for the ethical and political high ground ahead of Greece’s next electoral cycle.