Tsipras: Assessment, changes and quick decisions needed by Syriza to face threats to democracy

The voting results demand from SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance an objective assessment of the new situation and speedy decisions for needed changes, party leader Alexis Tsipras said after runoff elections on Sunday.

He noted that despite the fact Syriza remained the main opposition, it had suffered serious losses and “the electoral result is mainly negative for society and democracy.”

Tsipras warned that the right and the extreme right “are forging ahead” and urged democratic forces to “organize their resistance”, a priority for the main opposition party. It is necessary to honor the votes of citizens who assigned the party the role of standing up against the right and the extreme right, he noted.

He also referred to Europarliament elections, in about a year from today, as a deadline for the party’s comeback. For Syriza, he said, “a large and creative historic cycle, one of positive contributions to social majority and the homeland has come to an end,” he said, and must be “assessed withe pride.” At the same time, the party must “go ahead with necessary great changes to open a new cycle quickly and strongly, one that is more hopeful” when facing threats to democracy.

Syriza will make its decisions in a collective manner, and “party members will be invited to judge us all and to set out the strategy that responds to difficult conditions.” He would be the first to place himself at the judgment of party members, Tsipras added.