Syriza?

E mai complicat
1

de Redactia

Pe blogul su, Richard Seymour ofer o hart complet a stngii radicale din Grecia,
precum i a istoricului acesteia din perioada postbelic pn azi. O lectur util pentru a
clarifica caracterul polimorf al Syriza, precum i rela ia sa cu Partidul Comunist pe de o
parte, i cu social-democria, pe de alta.

Map of the Greek Radical Left posted by Richard Seymour

This is a map of the Greek radical left with a glossary below. I am grateful to Martin
Laurent for creating it, with the help of Stathis Kouvelakis, Nikos Loudos and
Panagiotis Sotiris.

SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left)

Founded as an alliance in 2004, SYRIZA is a regroupment of left organizations around
Synaspismos, by far from largest component. Since July 2013, SYRIZA is a unified party
with no constituent organizations. Two main currents are active inside SYRIZA: the
majority, itself a constellation of various currents, the main being Left Unity, around
Alexis Tsipras; and the Left Platform led by Panagiotis Lafazanis and Antonis
Davanellos (30% at the 2013 Congress). The Left Platform has its origins in the Left
Current of Synaspismos, mainly cadres and trade unionists having who left the KKE in
1991. The meteoric rise of SYRIZA started in 2012 (16,8% in May elections, 26,9% in
June). In the previous elections Syrizas scores oscillated between 5.7% in 2007 and 4.6%
in 2009.

Synaspismos (originally called Coalition of the Left and Progress and renamed Coalition
of the Left and of the Movements) started as an electoral coalition between KKE and
EAR for the general elections of 1989. After participating in a coalition government with
New Democracy (June 1989) and in one with New Democracy and PASOK (November
1989), the KKE split in 1991 with a significant minority leaving the party and joining
Synaspismos. Synaspismos was transformed into a party and EAR dissolved into it.
EAR (Greek Left) was founded in 1987 as the result of the split of the KKE (interior) and
regrouped the rightist fraction of the party, on a right Eurocommunist line. Led by
Leonidas Kyrkos from 87 to 1989, and then until its merger into Synaspismos by Fotis
Kouvelis. Most members left Synaspismos in 2010 to create DIMAR led by Kouvelis and
his followers.
AKOA (Renewing Communist Ecological Left). One of the ex-constituents of SYRIZA. Its
origins are in the left fraction of the KKE (interior). After the 1987 split, it initially called
itself the Greek Communist Party of the Interior Renewed Left, and in 1991 was renamed
as AKOA. Related to the weekly newspaper Epohi (Era).
KKE (interior) (Communist Party of Greece interior). Result of a major split in KKE in
1968, during the dictatorship. Established relations with the Italian Communist Party
and endorsed Euro-communism. Split in 1987 into EAR and what later became AKOA.
KOE (Communist Organization of Greece). One of the most significant organizations of
Maoist origin, product of a split in the KKE (m-l) in 1982. Puts forward a populist line
focusing on the national or patriotic elements of the resistance to austerity, aligned
with the majority current in SYRIZA.
DEA (Internationalist Workers Left). Originated as a split of SEK in 2001 and is part of
Syriza since its foundation. Since 2012 collaborates with the Left Current to constitute
the Left Platform. In December 2014 they reunited with Kokkoino (a previous split from
DEA). Has observer status in the Fourth International (United Secretariat).
Communist Platform. Greek section of the International Marxist Tendency, led by Alan
Woods. Not part of the Left Platform
***
KKE (Communist Party of Greece). Founded in 1918, it reached a membership of
hundreds of thousands during the Nazi occupation (1941-1944), leading the National
Liberation Front (EAM). Went underground after the Civil War and legalized only after
the fall of the Colonels dictatorship (1974). Followed the official pro-Moscow line until
the fall of USSR. Suffered the split of its youth in 1989, because of its coalition (through
Synaspismos) with New Democracy. Managed to recover its losses through the 90s and
2000s, with its active participation in the labor movement, the movement against the
war in Yugoslavia, and the student movement. Electorally reached a high of 9,5% in the
European Elections of 2004 and 8,5% in May 2012 general elections. Holds a sectarian
line of not coordinating in the mass movements.
***
DIMAR (Democratic Left). The origins of DIMAR are in the Renewal Wing of
Synaspismos, associated with cadre coming from EAR. DIMAR after getting a 6,3% in
the elections of June 2012 decided to join a coalition government with New Democracy

and PASOK. DIMAR broke from the government one year after, at the moment of the
closure of the public broadcaster (ERT).
***
ANTARSYA (Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow). The main front of the
Greek far Left. Was formed out of the merger of two previous smaller coalitions, after the
experience of December 2008 revolt. ANTARSYA, has a strong presence in social
movements through the fronts in which it participates (13% for the student front EAAK
in 2014 elections, very strong presence in public sector unions). Presence in local
elections (e.g. 2,2% in the Attica region in XXXX.) It has a number of elected councilors
in local governments. It took 1,2% in the May 2012 elections but saw its vote collapse to
0,33% one month after. In the Euroelections of 2014 went back to 0,72%. Its main
political position is that there can be no exit from the current economic and social crisis
without a halt to debt repayments, exit from the Eurozone and the European Union,
nationalization of Banks and strategic enterprises. In the 2015 general election it formed
an electoral coalition (ANTARSYA-MARS) with other radical left and anti-EU groups.
NAR (New Left Current). The biggest constituent of ANTARSYA, originating in the youth
wing of the KKE, splitting from the party in 1989 due to disagreements over the coalition
government with New Democracy. Eclectic in its ideological references, has played a
leading role in the regroupment of the revolutionary left in the student movement, and
has a network of prominent militant activists in the unions.
SEK (Socialist Workers Party). Founded in the early 1970s as the Organisation Socialist
Revolution is one of the revolutionary left organizations emerging through the collapse
of the dictatorship in 1974. Belongs to the International Socialist Tendency. Publishes
the weekly newspaper Ergatiki Allileggyi (Workers Solidarity). It is the second biggest
constituent of ANTARSYA. Has a prominent role in the anti-fascist, antiracist movement
and roots in some unions.
ARAN (Left Recomposition) is the third biggest constituent of ANTARSYA. With
theoretical references to Althusser, Poulantzas and Gramsci, it has insisted on the need
for political fronts that can be political laboratories and constituent processes for a new
radical Left. Strong presence in student unions, but also in unions and local movements.
OKDE-Spartakos (Organization of Communist Internationalists of Greece Spartakos)
Section of the Fourth International (United Secretariat) in Greece, one of the historic
organizations of the revolutionary left in Greece.
ARAS (Left Anti-Capitalist Group) and Aristeri Syspeirosi (Left Regroupment). These are
smaller groups, within ANTARSYA. They share with ARAN the same origins in the
student movement of the 1980s, and the experience of the independent left groups
within universities and share theoretical references to Althusserianism.
EKKE (Revolutionary Communist Movement of Greece). A small organization with a
long tradition. Of Maoist and Guevarist origins, it was one of the most prominent
organization of the revolutionary left in the years after the fall of the dictatorship.
Plan B is a group of militants insisting on the centrality of the break with the European
Union as the necessary starting point (the necesssary Plan B) for any progressive
politics. Alekos Alavanos, ex leader of SYRIZA is a leading figure in Plan B.

Xekinima Socialist Internationalist Organisation is the Greek affiliate of the

Committee for a Workers International. It started out as an oppositional grouping in
PASOK in the 1970s, but had been expelled by the late 1980s. It was a component of
SYRIZA between 2007 and 2011, on the hard left wing of the (then) coalition. It
continues to call for a SYRIZA vote and campaigned for a SYRIZA victory in the 2015
election. It is best known for its work amongst refugees and migrants, but also works in
the unions, in community struggles and amongst students.