Greece's parliament returns to work on Monday after the August recess, reopening a scramble among political parties to recruit independent lawmakers ahead of the next election. The number of independent MPs has climbed to a record 53 after Rena Douru, president of the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance parliamentary group, expelled Piraeus B MP Nina Kasimati from the group in the middle of last week.
Vice president of parliament Olga Gerovasili is also expected to join the ranks of independent MPs within days, which would make independents the second-largest bloc in parliament.
Most of that record number stems from the repeated splits within what was once a unified SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance. But the political landscape has shifted since the summer break, with an early election now looking less likely, which has left many independent MPs anxious about securing a party home. Remaining without a party also limits their political visibility in a year of intense local competition, prompting several to reconsider their position as the political calendar moves into the period marked by the Thessaloniki International Fair.
SYRIZA reaches out to former members
According to sources, there were behind-the-scenes contacts, approaches and soundings of independent MPs even during the summer holidays, shortly before a change of leadership at SYRIZA's Koumoundourou headquarters. Douru, who took over the parliamentary group only weeks ago, has reportedly been in contact with officials from Nea Aristera (New Left), and Koumoundourou is said to be targeting at least two independent MPs, Alexandros Avlonitis and Areti Papaioannou, for a full return to the party.
In a letter issued days ago, Douru addressed a clear and sincere call to the independent MPs elected with SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance who still believe in and support the party's principles, values and progressive, left-wing political identity, urging them to return to their political home and help remove the Right from power and turn the page with progressive government. The letter formally opened a new recruitment period for the party.
Some SYRIZA officials believe a middle ground should also be found with MPs or party figures who had followed Alexis Tsipras' personal political venture, pointing to independents such as Giota Poulou and Rallia Christidou. Koumoundourou is said to be open to the eventual return of former comrades from Nea Aristera, even though some officials feel uneasy about coexisting again with Pavlos Polakis and figures under his influence.
PASOK watches and waits
PASOK, based at its Charilaou Trikoupi headquarters, has not rushed to show its hand, instead watching with what is described as stoicism the recent movements between SYRIZA and the new party led by Tsipras in search of possible recruits of its own. In recent days the chances of PASOK announcing a fresh round of independent MPs joining have grown, following the earlier additions of Petros Pappas, Rania Thraskia and Michail Chourdakis. The names of Nina Kasimati and Alexandros Avlonitis are now being discussed intensely.
Senior PASOK figures are said to understand the pressure facing independent MPs seeking a party shelter ahead of the coming election. Pella MP Theodora Tzakri and retired admiral Evangelos Apostolakis are reported to be keeping open channels of communication with PASOK.
Tsipras builds his new party
The scale and intensity of PASOK's recruitment drive depends in part on the choices of former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, president of the Greek Left Alliance, who must select the parliamentary figures who will join his new party from the large pool of independent MPs. Among those who could potentially move to Tsipras' party, based at Amalias Avenue, are Popi Tsapanidou, Nasos Iliopoulos, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, Athina Linou, Giannis Dragasakis, Miltos Zabaras, Giorgos Gavrilos, Alexandros Meikopoulos, Dionysis Kalamatianos, Charis Mamoulakis, Kalliopi Vetta, Kostas Barkas, Alexis Charitsis, Marina Kontotoli and Giannis Sarakiotis.
The crowding of independent MPs around Tsipras is not seen as the best scenario by his party's strategists, who do not want the new project to be identified with the old SYRIZA. Even so, high expectations placed on the former prime minister by the party's social base have intensified competition for places among former SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance figures.
Tsipras says most of his lists are ready
A recent interview Tsipras gave to in.gr upended the plans of some independent MPs after he said that 80% of the party's candidate lists were already complete. The comment reflects both the organisational and electoral readiness of the new party and the small share of places he appears willing to leave for former comrades on its lists.
According to information reported by Thema, the remaining roughly 20% of Amalias's lists set aside for incorporating former colleagues will also include a further pool of candidates. Alongside the new faces expected to make up around 80% of the lists, the remaining 20% is expected to be split between independent or former SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance MPs and figures unknown to the wider public. That leaves even more independent MPs than initially expected without a party, intensifying backstage negotiations in the past 24 hours.
Those seen as closer to securing a place with the Greek Left Alliance include figures from Tsipras' inner circle, such as Olga Gerovasili, and regular associates such as Giorgos Vasileiadis and Grigoris Theodorakis. Better chances are also seen for those who followed Tsipras' path to the letter by resigning their parliamentary seats, including Efi Achtsioglou, Katerina Notopoulou, Symeon Kedikoglou, Vasilis Kokkalis and Giorgos Karameros.
Right-leaning independents look elsewhere
Several right-leaning independent MPs are also expected to seek a new party. Giannis Kontis and Thanasis Chalkias are reportedly in open communication with Elliniki Lysi (Greek Solution), led by Kyriakos Velopoulos.
Both a rumoured new party under former prime minister Antonis Samaras and the polling performance of Aphrodite Latinopoulou's Foni Logikis (Voice of Reason) are considered likely to weigh on their decisions in the coming weeks. The same is expected of the polling figures that Maria Karystianou's Elpida gia ti Dimokratia (Hope for Democracy) will post in the coming months. Nikos Papadopoulos reportedly held preliminary talks with Elpida without result, while independent MP Nikos Vrettos appeared close to the party in the previous political phase. Meanwhile, Charis Katsivardas is seeking to transfer to New Democracy.
