Kasselakis, Achtsioglou finalists for SYRIZA leadership

Stefanos Kasselakis and Effie Achtsioglou emerged as the two winners in the first round of leadership elections of the main opposition, left-wing SYRIZA yesterday, Sunday.

With 99% of the votes counted, Stefanos Kasselakis leads with 45%, followed by Achtsioglou (36.2%), Nikos Pappas (8.8%), Euclid Tsakalotos (8.7%) and Stefanos Tzoumakas (1.29%).

The two finalists are heading to a runoff next Sunday, September 24, 2023and the winner will depend on the ‘coalition’ that will be built during the week between the finalists and Pappas, Tsaklotos and Tzoumakas.

“The first step has been taken so that the country will have a progressive government soon. The country needs it,” Kasselakis told the press outside SYRIZA’s headquarters after winning the first round of the elections.

“We will all have to return to the polls on Sunday, win and be able to take on the government that currently does not adequately represent the history of the people,” he added.

On her side, Achtsioglou thanked voters for participating in droves and said next Sunday’s polls “will be decisive.”

“It will determine whether the fight before us will be given in political terms or not. The fight on the real field, in the Parliament and in society…SYRIZA cannot march in the murky waters of easy solutions. We have a responsibility towards the Greek people to be honest.”

It is recalled that 146,635 people voted on September 17, of which approximately 40,000 are new members. Due to the huge participation that surprised also  SYRIZA, the process had to be extended.

Worth noting that majority of voters cast their votes for ‘fresh” candidates in their mid-30’s.