SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras announced his resignation on Thursday after the party suffered a crushing defeat in Greece’s two elections.
“I understand the need for a new wave in SYRIZA. And I decided to step aside. I have confidence in the human capital of our party, in the inexhaustible forces of society and the Left,” Tsipras said in a televised statement.
Earlier, Tsipras chaired the party’s executive committee which met to discuss SYRIZA’s future. Tsipras is expected to stay on as leader until his successor is elected by the party membership.
In Sunday’s general election, the left-wing SYRIZA party received just under 18% percent of the vote while the winning New Democracy party topped 40%.
Tsipras, 48, served as Greece’s prime minister from 2015 to 2019 during politically tumultuous years as the country struggled to remain in the euro zone and end a series of international bailouts.
Source: Ekathimerini.