The Boeotia representative, Giota Poulou, and the MP for Pella, Theodora Tzakri.
Following the departure of Mr. Poulos and Mr. Tzakris, the SYRIZA-PS Parliamentary Group now has 29 members of parliament, and the position of official opposition is held by the PASOK-Movement for Change, which has 31 members of parliament.
In addition, there are now 21 independent members of parliament, following the recent expulsion of former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras from the New Democracy parliamentary group.
SYRIZA: Depriving the official opposition of its role is a clear institutional deviation
«For the first time in the country’s political history, the will of the Greek people for an official opposition—as expressed in the national elections—is being blatantly distorted and violated,» SYRIZA emphasizes in a statement regarding the loss of its status as the official opposition following today’s departure of two more members from the party’s parliamentary group, Theodora Tzakri and Giota Poulou.
«The fact that SYRIZA-PS has been deprived of this role is a clear institutional deviation,» SYRIZA emphasizes, arguing that «it is being carried out by someone who is trying—in vain—to destroy what he considered his personal asset. By deciding on his own—and calling on those who follow him—to hand over to PASOK the mandate for official opposition that Greek citizens gave to SYRIZA.».
«It’s obvious that the success of yesterday’s debate bothered them, which is why they chose today to premiere their poorly staged show,» he comments.
«As for the group of “willing” to carry out the plans of the collusion between the anti-SYRIZA front and New Democracy, they are today displaying a stance of utter political and personal indignity and dishonor. They can be certain that they will go down in history in the darkest of lights,» he notes.
In conclusion, SYRIZA emphasizes that «the leftist, progressive, democratic world has both memory and judgment. This institutional deviation will only make it more determined. And it will give the response they deserve to the scourges of cronyism and extralegal power centers through its dynamic and massive turnout at the polls this Sunday.».
Th. Tzachri – The party’s current self-appointed leaders have long since stripped SYRIZA of its role as the official opposition
Theodora Tzakri describes her decision to break away from the SYRIZA-PS parliamentary group as a «matter of respect» in her political career and an «act of self-respect,» noting that «Through their actions and maneuvers, the current guardians and self-appointed owners of the party have long since stripped SYRIZA-PS of its role as the Official Opposition.».
Below is the full text of the statement made by Ms. Tzachri regarding her decision to leave the SYRIZA-PS parliamentary group:
«As I had previously announced, I submitted my declaration of independence from the SYRIZA-PS Parliamentary Group to the Speaker of the House today.”.
A party to which I devoted half of my time in Parliament and all my energy until it ceased to be the party I had joined in 2014.
SYRIZA is currently controlled by bureaucrats and party machinery, and it would be impossible for me to remain in a party that brazenly, massively and publicly violates the constitutional right of thousands of citizens to vote and be elected, and expels its members—and thus the people who elected it.
In this sense, my independence is a matter of respect for my political journey and an act of self-respect, since, through their actions and maneuvers, the current guardians and self-appointed owners of the party have long since stripped SYRIZA-PS of its role as the Official Opposition.
As far as I am concerned, I will continue to honor the mandate of the people by serving the needs of society, rather than the changes brought about in an anti-constitutional, anti-political, and with deep contempt for the people—those who are now vying for the management of a title and a seal.
It is clear that my path from here on out will steadfastly follow the principles and values that have guided me and will continue to guide me throughout my political career.
»I am leaving with a heavy heart, but also with the hope that something new, inclusive, democratic, representative of the majority, and full of promise will take the place of a party that has run its course.".
