Greek left in uncharted waters, discusses Tsipras’ succession

The sudden resignation of former prime minister Alexis Tsipras from the leftist Syriza party (EU Left) leadership following a heavy electoral defeat has opened a Pandora’s Box as who will now take over his position is a difficult question to answer.

Syriza’s leader resigned on Thursday following a poor showing in a national parliamentary election, and he will not run for the party’s presidency.

“We are opening a new historical circle,” Tsipras said.

Read more: Greece’s Tsipras resigns from Leftist Syriza’s leadership

All Syriza members praised Tsipras for what they described as a “brave” decision to step down.

Several leftist members stressed that Tsipras had been a “political asset” for the left as he became the first “Leftist Prime Minister in Europe”, taking a party from 3% in 2009 to power in 2015.

Several names have been mentioned in the press regarding his succession in the party leadership, but no one has publicly expressed an interest.

Potential candidates

Among the candidates are former labour minister Efi Achtsioglou, former alternate economy minister Alexis Charitsis, and former finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos. The latter belongs to the so-called “internal opposition” of the party.

Achtsioglou is considered a good candidate with leftist positions and a relatively low profile in Greek politics. The fact that she is a woman also plays a role, as according to analysts, she could become Greece’s first female prime minister.

For his part, Charitsis is a close ally of Tsipras and has a good profile in Brussels after his successful mandate in the economy ministry and the 100% absorption of EU funds as part of the European budget.

Another name increasingly gaining ground is Gabriel Sakellaridis, who served from January to July 2015 as government spokesperson in the cabinet of Tsipras.

Sakellaridis resigned suddenly on 19 November 2015, claiming he could not support austerity measures in the bailout deal after the 2015 referendum. Since then, he has abstained from politics.

Several Syriza members estimate his return may be positive, considering that he was not “politically burnt” during the economic crisis and refused to accept austerity measures. Sakellaridis, though, has said he is not eyeing any top post.

(Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com)