Effie Achtsioglou has announced her candidacy for the leadership of the main opposition party, SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance. Her announcement came ahead of the party’s Central Committee meeting over the weekend. Achtsioglou made her announcement at the Athens Conservatoire on Rigillis Street.

Describing the current period as one of critical decisions, Achtsioglou emphasized that the party “must work effectively, with persistence, to once again create the prospect of a strong SYRIZA-Progressive-Alliance.”

“In order to realise our vision of a society of high expectations, we need a new SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, an effective, modern, methodical SYRIZA, able to respond to new challenges, which will highlight the collective effort and utilise our collective intelligence,” she added.

Achtsioglou acknowledged that her candidacy for the position of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader and leader of the main opposition “inevitably concerns not just SYRIZA, it concerns Greece, it concerns society.”

Who is Effie Achtsioglou?

Effie Achtsioglou is a prominent Greek politician with a background in economics and extensive experience in public service.

As a notable figure within Greek politics, Achtsioglou has served as the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs under the SYRIZA-led government from 2016 to 2019. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in implementing labor reforms and social policies aimed at addressing inequalities and improving the lives of Greek citizens. She has been actively involved in promoting workers’ rights, combating unemployment, and advocating for social justice.

Known for her expertise in labor economics, Achtsioglou has been vocal about the need to create a fair and inclusive labor market that provides decent working conditions and protects workers’ rights. She has been a staunch advocate for strengthening the social welfare system and fighting against poverty and inequality.

Achtsioglou’s decision to run for the leadership of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance demonstrates her commitment to the party’s progressive values and her determination to contribute to its renewal and growth. Her candidacy brings a fresh perspective and a focus on building a modern and effective political force that can respond to the evolving challenges.

As a candidate for party leadership, Achtsioglou seeks to promote collective effort, harness collective intelligence, and create a new vision for SYRIZA that resonates with the aspirations of the Greek society. Her experience in government, her dedication to social justice, and her understanding of economic issues make her a compelling candidate who aims to shape the future of Greek politics and contribute to the well-being of the country and its citizens.

Alexis Tsipras resigned as Syriza Party Leader following June election defeat

Alexis Tsipras, Greece’s former Prime Minister and leader of the left-wing Syriza party, announced his resignation following a significant defeat in the recent Greek elections. “The time has come to start a new cycle,” said Mr Tsipras, while calling for his centre-left party to be reformed.

In the elections, the conservative New Democracy (ND) party emerged victorious with nearly 41% of the vote, leaving Syriza far behind at 18%. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of ND, sees this as a “strong mandate” to implement his agenda of change. Mitsotakis had previously defeated Syriza in May but called for new elections in an attempt to secure a majority in the 300-member parliament.

Tsipras made his resignation announcement in a televised statement, stating that the negative election result should mark the beginning of a new phase for Syriza. He called for internal elections within the party to select a new leader, confirming that he would not be a candidate.

Tsipras, who is now 48 years old, served as Greece’s prime minister from 2015 to 2019 and was the country’s youngest leader in 150 years. He rose to power by promising to abolish austerity measures imposed by the EU to tackle Greece’s severe government debt crisis. However, he later went back on those promises, leading many Greeks to view him as a politician who almost caused the country’s exit from the eurozone.