Alexis Tsipras was welcomed with applause by members of his party, but has yet to reach a fairytale ending. Speaking in an old cinema, the Greek
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Alexis Tsipras was welcomed with applause by members of his party, but has yet to reach a fairytale ending.
Speaking in an old cinema, the Greek prime minister called on the divided Syriza Party to vote on its future strategy.
He has, effectively, set up a showdown between his supporters and Syriza’s anti-austerity hardliners by requesting a vote on whether Greece had any alternative to accepting tough bailout measures proposed by its international creditors.
Ultimately, he said, Syriza’s future is in the hands of its members:
“Europe’s first left-wing government since World War II will either be supported by leftist MPs or will fall at their hands, because, in their opinion, it’s stopped being left.”
With high hopes negotiations with Brussels will be wrapped up by August 20, Tsipras suggested organising a party congress for September, if its members agreed.
If not, he said, the ballot could take place on Sunday (August 2). However, a poll before talks with Europe have concluded would almost certainly amount to a vote on his leadership.
Syriza has yet to decide.