SYRIZA-PS President Alexis Tsipras proposes that the party’s rank-and-file elect the president and the Central Committee, according to party sources, as part of the consultations on amending the party’s bylaws. Proposals for «radical» changes, as they are described, were also submitted by the Bylaws Committee, consisting of Party officials and led by Yiannis Dragasakis.
According to the same sources, Alexis Tsipras's goal is for SYRIZA-PS to become «a different, open, attractive, and more modern party on the path to the new government”».
In addition, besides Yannis Dragasakis, the following person also played a special role on the Committee: Danae Koltsida, head of Poulantzas Institute who, for months, had been tasked by the president of SYRIZA-PS with reviewing the bylaws of all left-wing parties, as well as those of the Green and Social Democratic parties, in order to gain a complete picture of the structures and operations of modern parties and to select the model that best fits the characteristics of SYRIZA-PS, as well as to his own vision for a mass-based and participatory party. «A model of participatory democracy and digital mobilization of members,» as these sources state.
Specifically, the major changes proposed by Alexis Tsipras, according to party sources, are as follows:
- Digital Structure and Function.
The option for party bodies to operate digitally or in a hybrid format is established at all levels of the party, with in-person meetings naturally remaining the norm, and the party’s digital platform is institutionally recognized, with its role being elevated as a tool not only for information but also for consultation and voting.
- Simplifying the process of joining the party.
By simply submitting an application—either to the Local Organization (LO), to the party headquarters, or via the iSyriza.gr online platform—any citizen who wishes to do so automatically becomes a member of SYRIZA-PS. In cases of objections, in order to protect the party politically, members of the Local Organization to which the new member is assigned are given the option to appeal the admission to the Ethics Committee.
- Participatory and Direct Democracy.
Members play a much more substantive role than simply discussing decisions that have already been made, as they gain the right to make critical decisions—such as whether to participate in a government— through the holding of universal referendums. In addition, members elect representatives not only to the Congress but also to municipal and regional coordinating committees and the National Council, thereby strengthening their involvement at the municipal, regional, and national levels. They decide, through primary elections—in which supporters of the party may also participate—on the composition of local slates for national or local elections.
- Election of the party leadership directly by the party's rank-and-file members.
According to the proposal submitted by Alexis Tsipras, the collective leadership of SYRIZA-PS—both the Central Committee and the party president—will be elected directly by party members through a universal vote, using a single list. In addition to the text of the Policy Resolution, the Party Congress will approve the nominations for the Central Committee as well as for the party presidency. The universal vote will take place after the convention.
Through this process, party members gain the power to decide on their collective leadership directly and without intermediaries. And this serves as a strong incentive for party supporters—and especially for young people who want to know that their participation matters—to join the party and take part in its processes, as they help shape critical decisions.
It should also be noted that there is no distinction between the body that elects the president and the Central Committee, so no one can claim that the proposal aims to create a party led by a single leader; on the contrary, it aims to create a more democratic and participatory party.
Finally, this process safeguards the possibility for trends to function as currents of ideas but prevents them from serving as mechanisms for promoting officials through the so-called «slips of paper» at every convention. Direct election will enable officials who have a positive impact on social life— a fact that is usually reflected in the party’s grassroots, to have the opportunity to be elected even if they do not align with any of the party’s existing factions.
- Terms of Office of Officials in the Hellenic Parliament – European Parliament – Central Committee.
The party that proposed the adoption of term limits in the Constitutional Revision could not fail to adopt them in its party bylaws. Therefore, it is proposed to introduce a maximum limit of three terms or twelve consecutive years in the Hellenic Parliament/European Parliament, and, respectively, in the party’s Central Committee and Political Secretariat, so as to ensure the seamless renewal of its leadership.
- Gender Equality on the Central Committee.
Full gender equality—that is, equal representation—is being established at all levels, bodies, and organs of the party, as well as in the composition of candidate slates for public office. This is a major innovation in Greek politics, as SYRIZA-PS will be the first party in the country to adopt absolute equality 50%-50% between men and women in its collective leadership. Until now, the gender quota stood at 30%. There are also plans to establish an Anti-Discrimination Observatory as part of an effort to combat discrimination and promote inclusion, with the authority to conduct preliminary investigations into complaints of discrimination and, if deemed appropriate, refer them to the Ethics Committee.
- Establishment of an Ethics Committee/Disciplinary Sanctions.
A detailed framework of members’ obligations is being established, commensurate with their expanded rights. In this context, an Ethics Committee is being established, directly elected by the Congress, to monitor compliance with the bylaws and impose disciplinary sanctions where necessary, through a process that safeguards members’ rights while ensuring the implementation of the bylaws. For serious disciplinary offenses, the Ethics Committee may, by a two-thirds majority, decide to suspend a member’s membership or even expel the member.
