Coalition of the Left, of Movements and Ecology
Encyclopedia
The Coalition of the Left of Movements and Ecology is a Greek
political party
of the radical new
left
. It is commonly known simply as Synaspismos and abbreviated to SYN (ΣΥΝ). Until 2003, it was called the Coalition of the Left and Progress .
SYN is the largest party of a left-wing political coalition
formed in 2004 and named SYRIZA
(Coalition of the Radical Left).
On 10 February 2008 engineer Alexis Tsipras
was elected party president, replacing Alekos Alavanos
, who stepped down citing private reasons. Since 2009 elections Tsipras wasn't holding a parliamentary seat, so Alavanos was the parliamentary leader of the coalition. But after the elections of 2009, in which Alavanos didnot participate, Tsipras entered the Parliament, and is currently leading the Synaspismós parliamentary group.
(KKE) and Greek Left
, the successor to the eurocommunist Communist Party of Greece (Interior)
as its largest constituents. The disintegration of USSR brought the Left into disunion, and the traditional
majority within KKE purged all non-hardliners from the party - almost 45% of the Central Committee members, including ex-general secretary Grigoris Farakos, and majorities in many Local Committees (named by the KKE majority as revisionists and by the press as the renewers), and also split from the coalition.
Although the 'experiment' seemed to have great potential, serious ideological conflicts were afflicting the new party. At the legislative elections of 1993, SYN failed (for 2,000 votes) to pass the limit of 3% and enter the National Parliament. But next year, Synaspismos got its highest national 'score' ever (6,26%) in the 1994 elections for the European Parliament
. Two years later, with 5,12%, got its highest score in 1996 elections for the Greek Parliament.
In the legislative elections of 2000, SYN was supported by the small party AKOA
and a small group of ecologists. After the elections a few members of the National Committee, who were asking for approximation with the socialdemocrats, left the party accusing the majority of neo-communist turn and created the short-lived party AEKA. AEKA was first split and little later disbanded in some months, when the head of the party became an Undersecretary in the socialdemocratic
administration of Kostas Simitis.
In the legislative elections of 2004, Synaspismos, together with several smaller parties (AKOA
, KEDA
, DEA, Active Citizens), formed an alliance called SYRIZA
, but contested the Euro-elections of the same year on its own, because of ideological disagreements within the party. The alliance with the smaller parties was formed again at the end of 2005, when chairman Alavanos proposed the 30-year-old Alexis Tsipras
as candidate mayor of Athens for the Municipal Election of 2006, proclaiming the party's "overture to a younger generation". The Tsipras candidacy was received well, especially so by younger voters, and formed the party's springboard for its good 2007 parliamentary elections showing.
The ideology of SYN is influenced by Karl Marx
, V.I. Lenin, Rosa Luxemburg
, Antonio Gramsci
, Louis Althusser
, Nicos Poulantzas
et al.
Synaspismos aspires to be an "canopy party"; where, under the party flag, one can find people of varying ideological and theoretical backgrounds. Therefore, SYN members are encouraged to form, or participate in, intra-party platforms on the basis of kinship in ideology. Platforms mount open discussions and publish magazines, but may not work against party consensus decisions.
The role of the platforms is vital especially in congresses, because each of them proposes a thesis on party strategy and presents its own ballot of candidates for the National Committee. In the National Committee elected by the last Congress (5th - Feb 2008), the rank (in terms of representation) is the following: "Left Stream" (mainstream western marxism, party center-left), "Renewing Wing" (radical socialdemocracy, party right), the "Red-green Network" (eco-marxism, party left) and the "Initiative" (eurosceptic marxism, party extreme left). Since 2004 the Left Stream, the Red-greens and the Initiative form the so-called Left Majority, which is responsible for moving the party to most radical leftist positions.
Note: the exact word used is "τάσεις" ("tendencies"), but the term platform is more accurate in English.
The party has members in the National and European Parliament
. After having survived the crisis of not achieving parliamentary representation in 1993, Synaspismos has, since 1996, been the fourth party in the Greek Parliament, and the third party (in terms of representation) in local government. In the European Parliament
SYN is a member of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left group, and also a member of the European Social Forum
. Moreover, SYN hosted the 1st Congress of European Left (29-30 October 2005), which formulated the Athens Declaration of the European Left
as the manifesto of the European Left party.
Well-known executive members of Synaspismos are: Alexis Tsipras
, Alekos Alavanos
, Giannis Dragasakis
, Nikos Konstantopoulos
, Panagiotis Lafazanis et al.
Synaspismos is closely connected with the following:
SYN's youth organisation is Neolaia SYN (Νεολαία ΣΥΝ, SYN Youth), which is autonomous from the party structure. Until the late 1990s they were called "Left Youth League" (Ένωση Aριστερών Νέων). N-SYN have their own membership and executive bodies, but in general their decisions and activity are similar to the ones of the party. Their power is noteworthy in most Student Councils all around Greece, through the DIKTYO (Δίκτυο, "Network"). N-SYN also participates in the European Network of Democratic Young Left
(ENDYL).
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
of the radical new
New Left
The New Left was a term used mainly in the United Kingdom and United States in reference to activists, educators, agitators and others in the 1960s and 1970s who sought to implement a broad range of reforms, in contrast to earlier leftist or Marxist movements that had taken a more vanguardist...
left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
. It is commonly known simply as Synaspismos and abbreviated to SYN (ΣΥΝ). Until 2003, it was called the Coalition of the Left and Progress .
SYN is the largest party of a left-wing political coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
formed in 2004 and named SYRIZA
Coalition of the Radical Left
The Coalition of the Radical Left , commonly known by its Greek abbreviation ΣΥΡΙΖΑ , is a coalition of left political parties in Greece...
(Coalition of the Radical Left).
On 10 February 2008 engineer Alexis Tsipras
Alexis Tsipras
Alexis Tsipras is a Greek left wing politician, member of the Hellenic parliament, president of the Synaspismos political party and head of SYRIZA parliamentary group.-Early life and career:Tsipras was born July 28, 1974, in Athens....
was elected party president, replacing Alekos Alavanos
Alekos Alavanos
Alekos Alavanos is a Greek politician, member of the Hellenic Parliament, former member of the European Parliament. From 2004 until 2008 he was president of the Coalition of the Left of Movements and Ecology, commonly known as Synaspismos...
, who stepped down citing private reasons. Since 2009 elections Tsipras wasn't holding a parliamentary seat, so Alavanos was the parliamentary leader of the coalition. But after the elections of 2009, in which Alavanos didnot participate, Tsipras entered the Parliament, and is currently leading the Synaspismós parliamentary group.
Coalition, late 1980s–1991
Synaspismos emerged initially as an electoral coalition at the late 1980s, with the two Greek Communist Parties (the pro-Soviet Communist Party of GreeceCommunist Party of Greece
Founded in 1918, the Communist Party of Greece , better known by its acronym, ΚΚΕ , is the oldest party on the Greek political scene.- Foundation :...
(KKE) and Greek Left
Greek Left
Greek Left was a Greek leftwing political party.It emerged, in January 1987, from the split in the Communist Party of Greece into the Communist Party of Greece -Renewing Left and the Greek Left. Its ideology was Eurocommunism....
, the successor to the eurocommunist Communist Party of Greece (Interior)
Communist Party of Greece (Interior)
The Communist Party of Greece, Interior , usually abbreviated as KKE Interior was a communist political party in Greece. The party was formed after a major split of the Communist Party of Greece in 1968...
as its largest constituents. The disintegration of USSR brought the Left into disunion, and the traditional
Stalinism
Stalinism refers to the ideology that Joseph Stalin conceived and implemented in the Soviet Union, and is generally considered a branch of Marxist–Leninist ideology but considered by some historians to be a significant deviation from this philosophy...
majority within KKE purged all non-hardliners from the party - almost 45% of the Central Committee members, including ex-general secretary Grigoris Farakos, and majorities in many Local Committees (named by the KKE majority as revisionists and by the press as the renewers), and also split from the coalition.
Coalition's electoral results
| Results, 1989–1990 (year links to election page) |
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| Year | Type of Election | Votes | % | MPs elected | ||||
| 1989 European Parliament election, 1989 (Greece) The European Parliament election of 1989 in Greece for the election of the delegation from Greece to the European Parliament took place on June 15. The election system used in Greece was a party-list proportional representation with a 1.30% threshold for any party... |
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| November 1989 | |
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| 1990 Greek legislative election, 1990 Legislative elections were held in the Hellenic Republic on 8 April 1990. At stake were 300 seats in the Greek parliament, the Voule.The conservative New Democracy party of Constantine Mitsotakis, was elected, defeating the Panhellenic Socialist Movement of Andreas Papandreou. rowspan=2 colspan=2... |
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Party, 1991–present
After that, the other parties of the coalition and the renewing part of KKE decided to convert the alliance into a political party (1991).Although the 'experiment' seemed to have great potential, serious ideological conflicts were afflicting the new party. At the legislative elections of 1993, SYN failed (for 2,000 votes) to pass the limit of 3% and enter the National Parliament. But next year, Synaspismos got its highest national 'score' ever (6,26%) in the 1994 elections for the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. Two years later, with 5,12%, got its highest score in 1996 elections for the Greek Parliament.
Renewing Communist Ecological Left
Renewing Communist Ecological Left is a political party in Greece. It was formed mostly by members of the late eurocommunist-influenced KKE Interior.In the 2000 parliamentary elections AKOA supported Synaspismos...
and a small group of ecologists. After the elections a few members of the National Committee, who were asking for approximation with the socialdemocrats, left the party accusing the majority of neo-communist turn and created the short-lived party AEKA. AEKA was first split and little later disbanded in some months, when the head of the party became an Undersecretary in the socialdemocratic
Panhellenic Socialist Movement
The Panhellenic Socialist Movement , known mostly by its acronym PASOK , is one of the two major political parties in Greece. Founded on 3 September 1974 by Andreas Papandreou, in 1981 PASOK became Greece's first social democratic party to win a majority in parliament.The party is a socialist party...
administration of Kostas Simitis.
In the legislative elections of 2004, Synaspismos, together with several smaller parties (AKOA
Renewing Communist Ecological Left
Renewing Communist Ecological Left is a political party in Greece. It was formed mostly by members of the late eurocommunist-influenced KKE Interior.In the 2000 parliamentary elections AKOA supported Synaspismos...
, KEDA
Movement for the United in Action Left
Movement for the United in Action Left is a political party in Greece that is part of the Coalition of the Radical Left.KEDA was formed in the early 2000s, by a splinter group of major party officials of the Communist Party of Greece , most prominently Yiannis Theonas and Mitsos Kostopoulos...
, DEA, Active Citizens), formed an alliance called SYRIZA
Coalition of the Radical Left
The Coalition of the Radical Left , commonly known by its Greek abbreviation ΣΥΡΙΖΑ , is a coalition of left political parties in Greece...
, but contested the Euro-elections of the same year on its own, because of ideological disagreements within the party. The alliance with the smaller parties was formed again at the end of 2005, when chairman Alavanos proposed the 30-year-old Alexis Tsipras
Alexis Tsipras
Alexis Tsipras is a Greek left wing politician, member of the Hellenic parliament, president of the Synaspismos political party and head of SYRIZA parliamentary group.-Early life and career:Tsipras was born July 28, 1974, in Athens....
as candidate mayor of Athens for the Municipal Election of 2006, proclaiming the party's "overture to a younger generation". The Tsipras candidacy was received well, especially so by younger voters, and formed the party's springboard for its good 2007 parliamentary elections showing.
Party's electoral results
| Results, 1993–2007 (year links to election page) |
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| Year | Type of Election | Votes | % | MPs elected | ||||
| 1993 Greek legislative election, 1993 Legislative elections were held in the Hellenic Republic on October 10, 1993. At stake were 300 seats in the Greek parliament, the Voule.The Panhellenic Socialist Movement of Andreas Papandreou, was elected, defeating the conservative New Democracy party of Constantine Mitsotakis.-Results:... |
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| 1994 European Parliament election, 1994 (Greece) The European Parliament election of 1994 in Greece for the election of the delegation from Greece to the European Parliament took place on June 12. The election system used in Greece was a party-list proportional representation with a 3% threshold for any party... |
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| 1996 Greek legislative election, 1996 Legislative elections were held in the Hellenic Republic on 22 September 1996. At stake were 300 seats in the Greek Parliament.The ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement of Costas Simitis, was elected, defeating the liberal-conservative New Democracy party of Miltiadis Evert.-Results: rowspan=2... |
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| 1999 European Parliament election, 1999 (Greece) The European Parliament election of 1999 in Greece for the election of the delegation from Greece to the European Parliament took place on June 13. The election system used in Greece was a party-list proportional representation with a 3% threshold for any party... |
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| 2000 | |
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| 2004 Greek legislative election, 2004 Legislative elections were held in Greece on March 7, 2004. At stake were 300 seats in the Greek Parliament, the Vouli . The New Democracy Party of Kostas Karamanlis won a decisive victory in the elections, ending eleven years of rule by the Panhellenic Socialist Movement .PASOK was led into the... |
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| 2004 European Parliament election, 2004 (Greece) The European Parliament election of 2004 in Greece for the election of the delegation from Greece to the European Parliament took place on June 13. The election system used in Greece was a party-list proportional representation with a 3% threshold for any party... |
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| 2007 | |
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| 2009 European Parliament election, 2009 (Greece) The European Parliament election of 2009 in Greece for the election of the delegation from Greece to the European Parliament in 2009 took place on June 7, 2009. The election system used in Greece is party-list proportional representation with a 3% threshold for any party... |
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| 2009 Greek legislative election, 2009 Parliamentary elections were held in Greece on 4 October 2009. An election was not required until September 2011.On 2 September Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis announced he would request President Karolos Papoulias to dissolve Parliament and call an election... |
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- †As part of the Coalition of the Radical LeftCoalition of the Radical LeftThe Coalition of the Radical Left , commonly known by its Greek abbreviation ΣΥΡΙΖΑ , is a coalition of left political parties in Greece...
.
Ideological identity
SYN describes itself as a radical left party, inspired by the ideas of the renewal of the communist and broader left movement in Greece and in Europe. It also fights for the merging of the ecological movement along with the left, to form a strategic alliance. The party's culture has been enriched by its active participation in the movement against the Neoliberal Capitalist Globalization.The ideology of SYN is influenced by Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
, V.I. Lenin, Rosa Luxemburg
Rosa Luxemburg
Rosa Luxemburg was a Marxist theorist, philosopher, economist and activist of Polish Jewish descent who became a naturalized German citizen...
, Antonio Gramsci
Antonio Gramsci
Antonio Gramsci was an Italian writer, politician, political philosopher, and linguist. He was a founding member and onetime leader of the Communist Party of Italy and was imprisoned by Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime...
, Louis Althusser
Louis Althusser
Louis Pierre Althusser was a French Marxist philosopher. He was born in Algeria and studied at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he eventually became Professor of Philosophy....
, Nicos Poulantzas
Nicos Poulantzas
Nicos Poulantzas was a Greek Marxist political sociologist. In the 1970s, Poulantzas was known, along with Louis Althusser, as a leading Structural Marxist and, while at first a Leninist, eventually became a proponent of eurocommunism. He is most well known for his theoretical work on the state...
et al.
Synaspismos aspires to be an "canopy party"; where, under the party flag, one can find people of varying ideological and theoretical backgrounds. Therefore, SYN members are encouraged to form, or participate in, intra-party platforms on the basis of kinship in ideology. Platforms mount open discussions and publish magazines, but may not work against party consensus decisions.
The role of the platforms is vital especially in congresses, because each of them proposes a thesis on party strategy and presents its own ballot of candidates for the National Committee. In the National Committee elected by the last Congress (5th - Feb 2008), the rank (in terms of representation) is the following: "Left Stream" (mainstream western marxism, party center-left), "Renewing Wing" (radical socialdemocracy, party right), the "Red-green Network" (eco-marxism, party left) and the "Initiative" (eurosceptic marxism, party extreme left). Since 2004 the Left Stream, the Red-greens and the Initiative form the so-called Left Majority, which is responsible for moving the party to most radical leftist positions.
Note: the exact word used is "τάσεις" ("tendencies"), but the term platform is more accurate in English.
Representation & international alliances
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. After having survived the crisis of not achieving parliamentary representation in 1993, Synaspismos has, since 1996, been the fourth party in the Greek Parliament, and the third party (in terms of representation) in local government. In the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
SYN is a member of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left group, and also a member of the European Social Forum
European Social Forum
The European Social Forum is a recurring conference held by members of the alter-globalization movement . In the first few years after it started in 2002 the conference was held every year, but later it became biannual due to difficulties with finding host countries...
. Moreover, SYN hosted the 1st Congress of European Left (29-30 October 2005), which formulated the Athens Declaration of the European Left
Athens Declaration of the European Left
The Athens Declaration of the European Left is a joint declaration that was produced produced at the conclusion of the 1st congress of the European Left, a European political party. The congress was held in Athens on 29–30 October 2005...
as the manifesto of the European Left party.
Well-known executive members of Synaspismos are: Alexis Tsipras
Alexis Tsipras
Alexis Tsipras is a Greek left wing politician, member of the Hellenic parliament, president of the Synaspismos political party and head of SYRIZA parliamentary group.-Early life and career:Tsipras was born July 28, 1974, in Athens....
, Alekos Alavanos
Alekos Alavanos
Alekos Alavanos is a Greek politician, member of the Hellenic Parliament, former member of the European Parliament. From 2004 until 2008 he was president of the Coalition of the Left of Movements and Ecology, commonly known as Synaspismos...
, Giannis Dragasakis
Giannis Dragasakis
Giannis Dragasakis is a Greek politician. He studied Political and Economic Sciences. He is a member of the Greek Parliament for the Coalition of the Radical Left for the Athens B constituency.He was elected MP:...
, Nikos Konstantopoulos
Nikos Konstantopoulos
Nikos Konstantopoulos is a Greek politician, member of the Hellenic Parliament and former president of the left-wing Synaspismos.Born in 1942 in the village of Krestena, near Olympia, Konstantopoulos studied law in the University of Athens...
, Panagiotis Lafazanis et al.
Synaspismos is closely connected with the following:
- The Athens daily newspaper ΑΥΓΗ (Dawn)
- The Athens radio station "105.5 FM - Στο Κóκκινο" (In Red).
- The "Nicos PoulantzasNicos PoulantzasNicos Poulantzas was a Greek Marxist political sociologist. In the 1970s, Poulantzas was known, along with Louis Althusser, as a leading Structural Marxist and, while at first a Leninist, eventually became a proponent of eurocommunism. He is most well known for his theoretical work on the state...
" Institute for Political Research - The Archive of Modern Social History (ΑΣKI)
Structure
The structure of SYN consists of three levels:- Local: City, village or trade union committees, responsible for everyday matters at the workplace and neighborhood level, and deciding on issues of local interest.
- Prefectural: The Prefectural Administration is elected by the members of the local committees and co-ordinates local committee work.
- Nationwide: The National Committee (or CPC: Central Political Committee) is elected by the Party Congress, held every 3 years. It exercises the central administration of the party and convenes almost every month. Major decisions are usually taken at this level.
- The Secretariat is elected by the CPC among its members, and oversees three duties: to represent the party in media outlets and in negotiations with other parties; to prepare CPC sessions; and to co-ordinate party work at the nationwide level. Though somewhat similar to the Politbüro of old-style communist parties, its role is not nearly as dominant. Usually the members of the Secretariat are working full-time for the party.
- The Chairperson of SYN is elected by the Congress and is a primus inter paresPrimus inter paresPrimus inter pares is Latin phrase describing the most senior person of a group sharing the same rank or office.When not used in reference to a specific title, it may indicate that the person so described is formally equal, but looked upon as an authority of special importance by their peers...
member of both the CPC and the Secretariat.
- The Chairperson of SYN is elected by the Congress and is a primus inter pares
- The Secretariat is elected by the CPC among its members, and oversees three duties: to represent the party in media outlets and in negotiations with other parties; to prepare CPC sessions; and to co-ordinate party work at the nationwide level. Though somewhat similar to the Politbüro of old-style communist parties, its role is not nearly as dominant. Usually the members of the Secretariat are working full-time for the party.
SYN youth
European Network of Democratic Young Left
The European Network of Democratic Young Left is an independent network of left-wing democratic socialist political youth organizations in Europe....
(ENDYL).
List of SYN leadership
- SYN as electoral coalition
- 1989-1991: chairman Charilaos FlorakisCharilaos FlorakisCharilaos Florakis was a leader of the Communist Party of Greece .Florakis was born on 20 July 1914 in the village of Paliozoglopi, located near Agrafa in the Itamos municipality, prefecture of Karditsa, Greece. He joined KKE, in 1941...
, secretary Leonidas KyrkosLeonidas KyrkosLeonidas Kyrkos was a Greek leftist politician and member of the Hellenic Parliament and the European Parliament.-Life:... - 1991: chairwoman Maria DamanakiMaria DamanakiMaria Damanaki is a Greek politician, former president of the Synaspismos party of the radical left and currently a state member of the Hellenic Parliament within the Panhellenic Socialist Movement ....
, secretary Fotis Kouvelis
- 1989-1991: chairman Charilaos Florakis
- SYN as party
- 1991-1993: chairwoman Maria DamanakiMaria DamanakiMaria Damanaki is a Greek politician, former president of the Synaspismos party of the radical left and currently a state member of the Hellenic Parliament within the Panhellenic Socialist Movement ....
, no secretary - 1993-2004: chairman Nikos KonstantopoulosNikos KonstantopoulosNikos Konstantopoulos is a Greek politician, member of the Hellenic Parliament and former president of the left-wing Synaspismos.Born in 1942 in the village of Krestena, near Olympia, Konstantopoulos studied law in the University of Athens...
, no secretary - 2004-2008: chairman Alekos AlavanosAlekos AlavanosAlekos Alavanos is a Greek politician, member of the Hellenic Parliament, former member of the European Parliament. From 2004 until 2008 he was president of the Coalition of the Left of Movements and Ecology, commonly known as Synaspismos...
, secretary Nikos Hountis - 2008-present: Alexis TsiprasAlexis TsiprasAlexis Tsipras is a Greek left wing politician, member of the Hellenic parliament, president of the Synaspismos political party and head of SYRIZA parliamentary group.-Early life and career:Tsipras was born July 28, 1974, in Athens....
, secretary Nikos Hountis, since July 2009 Dimitris Vitsas
- 1991-1993: chairwoman Maria Damanaki
External links
- Synaspismos' web site in English
- The Youth of Synaspismos
- Radio Station In Red live
- Institute Nikos Poulantzas
- ASKI archives, currently only in Greek
- Greek election results, via the Greek Ministry of Internal Affairs