The scheduled meeting of SYRIZA’s Central Committee hangs in the balance, as the party remains deadlocked over who has the authority to convene its internal bodies—triggering confusion about the proper procedure following Sokratis Famellos’s resignation.
Low Turnout at Wyndham Grand Hotel
This Saturday (11 July 2026), only a handful of members made their way to the Wyndham Grand Hotel on Karaiskaki Square in Athens—the venue designated for the Central Committee session under normal circumstances. So far, only Pavlos Polakis and Nikos Pappas have confirmed their attendance. Fotis Kouvelis is also reported to be present at the location.
Root of the Dispute
The rift erupted after Famellos stepped down. Two factions now disagree sharply on procedural legitimacy: Polakis and Pappas argue that a formal request signed by 73 Central Committee members activates a provision in the party’s statute, making the convening of the body mandatory.
In contrast, Deputy Party Secretary Anastasia Sapouna challenges the legality of the process, asserting that required procedural steps were not followed. She has proposed instead that the Central Committee meet on 18 July—convened through the Political Secretariat.
More Than Just Timing Is at Stake
The dispute goes beyond scheduling. At its core lies the legitimacy of any decisions taken during the session. Even if the meeting proceeds, its outcomes risk being contested by the opposing faction.
Internally, the struggle continues over the next steps—including the election of a new leader for SYRIZA’s parliamentary group. These developments are closely tied to the party’s broader strategic response to Alexis Tsipras and his newly launched political initiative.