The president of New Left, Gabriel Sakellaridis, has moved to shut down speculation about a possible political merger or broader alignment with the political formation led by Alexis Tsipras, clarifying his party’s position through a video posted on social media.
In his intervention, Sakellaridis directly addressed growing political rumors about potential cooperation or convergence between New Left and the Greek Left Alliance, firmly rejecting such scenarios and emphasizing ideological and programmatic differences.
“We Want a Left That Means What It Says”
Responding to questions about why his party does not align with Tsipras’ political camp, Sakellaridis drew a clear distinction between rhetorical references to the Left and substantive political practice.
“Many invoke the Left as a label. The real question is what they actually stand for,” he stated.
He further emphasized that his political project is rooted in consistency between discourse and policy:
“We want a Left that believes what it says and says what it believes.”
The remarks reflect a deliberate effort by New Left to define its identity as an independent political force within Greece’s fragmented progressive space.
Sharp Criticism of Tsipras’ Political Direction
Sakellaridis also reiterated his critical stance toward former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, arguing that his political approach does not reflect genuine left-wing principles, despite being framed in such terms.
While he did not elaborate in detail on specific disagreements, his comments reinforce an ongoing ideological distance between New Left and Tsipras’ political legacy.
Policy Priorities: Housing, Migration and Defense Spending
Beyond internal political positioning, Sakellaridis outlined key policy proposals promoted by New Left.
Among them, he highlighted:
- The abolition of the Golden Visa program, which he argues contributes to real estate pressure and inequality.
- A reduction in defense spending to approximately 1.5% of GDP, signaling a more restrained military expenditure approach compared to current national policy.
These proposals underline the party’s broader effort to differentiate itself on both economic and foreign policy priorities.
A Fragmented Progressive Landscape
The statement comes amid ongoing speculation about possible realignments within Greece’s center-left and left-wing political space.
However, Sakellaridis’ intervention appears aimed at closing the door on merger scenarios, at least in the near term, and reinforcing New Left’s positioning as an autonomous political entity.
Analysts note that the broader progressive field in Greece remains highly fragmented, with competing narratives over leadership, strategy and ideological direction continuing to shape internal debates.
“No to Political Ambiguity”
In conclusion, Sakellaridis’ message was clear: New Left seeks to avoid political ambiguity and maintain a distinct ideological profile.
By rejecting merger scenarios and distancing himself from Tsipras’ political trajectory, he signals an intention to consolidate the party’s identity around specific policy positions and a more defined interpretation of left-wing politics in Greece’s current political landscape.
Source: pagenews.gr