Former Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has returned to the political arena with a new party, the Greek Left Alliance (ELAS), as the country's political landscape fragments under the weight of scandals and economic stagnation. The 51-year-old leftist leader announced the party's name in Athens on Tuesday, positioning it as a challenger to the conservative government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ahead of the 2027 parliamentary elections.
Tsipras's Political Comeback
In a speech late Tuesday, Tsipras declared that he was returning after months on the sidelines to restore trust where disappointment prevails. He argued that Greece needs a shock of integrity and democracy after years of rule by Mitsotakis, accusing the government of authoritarianism and corruption. Tsipras, who became Greece's youngest prime minister in 150 years when he took office in 2015, initially promised to eliminate austerity and clashed with the European Union and International Monetary Fund, nearly crashing the country out of the euro. However, he ultimately backed down and signed a final rescue deal that enabled Greece to exit the crisis in 2018.
Party Name Controversy
The new party's name, ELAS, has drawn immediate criticism as it is both the acronym of Greece's police force and the name of the communist guerrilla group that fought the Nazis during World War II. Tsipras's movement aims to rally social democrats, radical leftists, and greens, but his shift toward the political center has been criticized by former supporters. His former finance minister, Euclid Tsakalotos, remarked that Tsipras believes the story of the left is over for him.
Political Fragmentation
Opinion polls indicate that up to 18 percent of respondents could back a party led by Tsipras, which would be enough for second place. The political landscape has become increasingly fragmented, with as many as three new parties potentially emerging. Besides Tsipras's formation, former conservative prime minister Antonis Samaras, who was expelled from New Democracy in 2024, is rumored to be planning a challenge. Additionally, Maria Karystianou, who gained prominence by campaigning for victims of the 2023 train tragedy in which she lost her daughter, announced a new party on May 21.
Scandals Eroding Support for Government
Mounting prices and a series of scandals have eroded support for Mitsotakis's government, now in its seventh year in power. Key issues include a farm subsidy scandal investigated by the EU, a wiretapping scandal targeting cabinet members, journalists, and opposition leader Nikos Androulakis, and widespread anger over the slow investigation into Greece's worst train disaster, which claimed 57 lives in 2023 and took three years to reach trial. An Alco poll this month showed nearly 80 percent of Greeks believe laws are only selectively applied, while nearly 50 percent said their vote would be influenced by rule of law issues.
Future Prospects
While Mitsotakis remains ahead in the polls, the emergence of new parties suggests a volatile political environment. Antonis Papargiris, research director of polling firm GPO, noted that Tsipras aims to secure second place and the role of leader of the opposition, with his sights set on the national elections after 2030. Elections are scheduled for 2027, but there is speculation they could be held as early as September. Mitsotakis dismissed the new parties as repeating old patterns of thinking, describing an emerging political Babel whose only common ground is the denunciation of the government.
