New Rifts in SYRIZA Over Digital Voting for New Members: Resignations and Criticism from Polakis and Alexiadis

The decision by SYRIZA leadership to adopt a hybrid election process for new Central Committee members has sparked fresh issues for Koumoundourou, as five candidates withdrew from the electoral procedure. However, SYRIZA’s president defended the process, urging interested members to complete their online registration, which remains open until Thursday night (June 26, 2025). Socrates Famellos referenced the digital voting during the recent conference, indirectly responding to criticism from figures like Tryphon Alexiadis: ‘Decisions at the previous Sunday’s conference were significant and all were made digitally,’ he stated, adding that over 3,000 delegates voted digitally on complex issues such as statutes, banks, infrastructure, ports, and roads. Famellos emphasized that modern tools should be utilized for a contemporary party. Despite this stance, Paulos Polakis opposed the electronic voting, while Alexiadis criticized the selection mechanisms in a letter. Meanwhile, Famellos criticized the government’s foreign policy in Parliament, calling for immediate action and condemning Greece’s passive role as a non-permanent UN Security Council member. He accused Prime Minister Mitsotakis of silence or support for the logic of a ‘given and willing ally’ towards the US and Israel, urging the government to return to an active policy of initiatives within the EU and UN.