Just two months before its official transformation into a political party, the Movement for Democracy (KIDH) of Stefanos Kasselakis finds itself on the brink of collapse. Several key figures who supported him during the intense internal conflict and played pivotal roles in splitting the party from Koumoundourou have been forced to resign, while tensions within the organization remain high.
The crisis has existed since the party’s inception, with members claiming that the leadership, including Kasselakis himself, is being guided by a faction rooted in PASOK and SYRIZA. This group, known as PASP-ASOEE, appears to hold significant influence over decision-making, pushing some members toward the exit.
According to reports, two female MPs of the party, Kyriaki Malama and Giota Pouliou, are particularly dissatisfied and reportedly considering leaving. In an attempt to calm tensions, Kasselakis appointed Theodora Tzakri as vice-president to project stability. However, questions remain about who will fill the second vice-president position, with speculation surrounding Evangelos Apostolakis fading as he appears distant from the party’s inner circle.
Tensions escalated further when Kasselakis ordered party members to shut down external chat groups and avoid public discussion of internal matters. His directive prompted backlash, with several members voicing dissent publicly before resigning.
Nikos Karanikas, a former member, criticized Kasselakis for failing to confront the PASP-ASOEE faction, accusing him of enabling their covert operations within the party. Karanikas stated: “The president did not show strength against the faction. Instead, he covered it up by remaining silent and denying its existence… He feared expelling 20 faction members and handed the party over to them silently.”
The recent crisis came to a head when Kasselakis issued a letter demanding that members refrain from discussing internal affairs publicly and close all external communication channels such as WhatsApp chats. Those who violated this rule were told to leave the party immediately.
In response, the Executive Office of the party released a statement condemning public criticism and calling for unity: “We condemn the practices of defamatory posts and the creation of public discussions concerning the internal affairs of the Movement. We call on those who engaged in these actions to leave the Movement.”
Despite calls for his removal, Vangelis Antonaros remains in the party, highlighting the ongoing divisions and uncertainty within the Movement for Democracy.