Coalition of the Radical Left - Unitary Social Front Συνασπισμός Ριζοσπαστικής Αριστεράς - Ενωτικό Κοινωνικό Μέτωπο Synaspismós Rizospastikís Aristerás - Enotikó Koinonikó Métopo
Leader	Alexis Tsipras
Slogan	Ανοίγουμε δρόμο στην ελπίδα / Anígume drómo stin elpída (We open a way to hope)
Founded	2004 (as alliance) 22 May 2012 (as party)[1][2]
Headquarters	39 Valtetsiou, 106 81 Athens, Greece
Ideology	Democratic socialism,[3] Eco-socialism,[3][4] Eurocommunism,[5] Anti-capitalism,[3] Alter-globalization[4]
Political position	Left-wing[4][6] to Far-left[7][8]
European affiliation	Party of the European Left (member), European Anticapitalist Left (observer)
European Parliament group	European United Left – Nordic Green Left
Colours	pink
Parliament	71 / 300
European Parliament	1 / 22
Regions [9]	17 / 725
Website
www.syriza.gr
Politics of Greece Political parties Elections

The Coalition of the Radical Left - Unitary Social Front (Greek: Συνασπισμός Ριζοσπαστικής Αριστεράς - Ενωτικό Κοινωνικό Μέτωπο, Synaspismós Rizospastikís Aristerás - Enotikó Koinonikó Métopo), known mostly by its acronym SYRIZA (Greek: ΣΥΡΙΖΑ, pronounced [ˈsiɾiza]), is a left-wing political party in Greece, originally founded as a coalition of left-wing and radical left parties.

The coalition comprises a broad array of groups (thirteen in total) and independent politicians, including democratic socialists and green left groups, as well as Maoist, Trotskyist, and eurocommunist organisations. Its parliamentary leader is Alexis Tsipras, president of Synaspismós, the largest party in the coalition.

In 2012 Syriza became the second largest party in the Greek parliament and the main opposition party.

Syriza's parliamentary leader, Alexis Tsipras

History [edit]

Formation [edit]

Although Syriza was formally launched before the legislative election of 2004, the roots of the process that led to its formation can be traced back to the Space for Dialogue for the Unity and Common Action of the Left (Greek: Χώρος Διαλόγου για την Ενότητα και Κοινή Δράση της Αριστεράς) in 2001.^[10] The "Space" was composed of various organisations of the Greek Left that, despite different ideological and historical backgrounds, had shared common political action in several important issues that had arisen in Greece at the end of the 1990s, such as the Kosovo War, privatizations, social and civil rights,^[11] etc.

The "Space" provided the common ground from which the participating parties could work together on issues such as:

• Against the neoliberal reform of the pension and social security systems
• Opposition to new anti-terrorism legislation
• The preparation of the Greek participation at the 2001 international demonstration in Genoa.^[12]

Even though the "Space" was not a political organisation, but rather an effort to bring together the parties and organisations that attended, it gave birth to some electoral alliances for the local election of 2002,^[13] the most successful being the one led by Manolis Glezos for the super-prefecture of Athens-Piraeus. The "Space" also provided the common ground from which several of the member parties and organizations launched the Greek Social Forum,^[14] part of the larger European Social Forum.

2004 general election [edit]

The defining moment for the birth of Syriza came with the legislative election of 2004. Most of the participants of the "Space" sought to develop a common platform that could lead to an electoral alliance.^[15] This led to the eventual formation of the Coalition of the Radical Left, in January 2004.^[16]

The parties that originally formed the Coalition of the Radical Left in January 2004 were:

• Synaspismós (SYN)
• The Renewing Communist Ecological Left (AKOA)
• The Internationalist Workers Left (DEA)
• The Movement for the United in Action Left (KEDA) (a splinter group of the Communist Party of Greece)
• Active Citizens (a political organisation associated with Manolis Glezos)
• Other independent left-wing groups or activists

Although the Communist Organization of Greece (KOE) had participated in the "Space", it decided not to take part in the Coalition^[why?].^[17]

In the election, the coalition gathered 241,539 votes (3.3% of the total) and elected six members to parliament. All six were members of Synaspismós, the largest of the coalition parties. This led to much tension within the coalition.

Crisis and revitalization [edit]

Alekos Alavanos

After the 2004 election, the smaller parties accused Synaspismós of not honoring an agreement to have one of its members of parliament resign so that Yannis Banias of the AKOA could take his seat.^[18] Tension built up and resulted in the split of the Internationalist Workers Left and the formation of Kokkino, both of which remained within the coalition. The frame of the crisis within Syriza was the reluctance of Synaspismós to adopt and maintain the political agreement for a clear denial of "centre-left politics".

Three months after the legislative elections, Synaspismós chose to run independently from the rest of the coalition for the 2004 elections for the European Parliament and some of the smaller parties of the coalition supported the feminist Women for Another Europe (Greek: Γυναίκες για μια Άλλη Ευρώπη) list.^[19]

The crisis ended in December 2004 with the 4th convention of Synaspismós, when a large majority within the party voted for the revitalization of the coalition.^[20] This change of attitude was further intensified with the election of Alekos Alavanos, a staunch supporter of the coalition,^[21] as president of Synaspismós, after its former leader, Nikos Konstantopoulos, stepped down.

The coalition was further strengthened by the successful organization in May 2006 of the 4th European Social Forum in Athens, as well as by a number of largely successful election campaigns, such as those in Athens and Piraeus, during the local elections of 2006. The coalition ticket in the municipality of Athens was headed by the 30-year-old Alexis Tsipras, proposed by Alavanos who declared Synaspismós's "opening to the new generation".

2007 general election [edit]

The Coalition of the Radical Left was the big surprise in the 2007 Greek legislative election (16 September 2007), increasing its votes by 120,000 and gaining an unexpected 5,04%. Opinion polls had already indicated that the Coalition was expected to make significant gains in the election, with predictions ranging from 4% to 5% of the electorate.^[22]

Prior to the election, in 22 June, the participating parties had agreed on a common declaration. The signed Declaration of the Coalition of the Radical Left outlined the common platform on which the Coalition would compete in the following election and outlined the basis for the political alliance.^[23]

The Coalition of 2007 has also expanded from its original composition in 2004. On 20 June 2007, the Communist Organization of Greece (KOE) announced its participation into the Coalition.^[24] On August 21 the environmentalist Ecological Intervention (Greek: Οικολογική Παρέμβαση) also joined,^[25] and on 22 August 2007, the Democratic Social Movement (DIKKI) also announced its own participation to the Coalition.^[26]

On 2 September the Areios Pagos refused to include the title of DIKKI in the Syriza electoral alliance, claiming that the internal procedures followed by DIKKI were flawed. This was criticised furiously by both Syriza and DIKKI as inappropriate interference by the courts in party political activity.^[27]

Developments 2007-2011 [edit]

Six party leaders' televised debate ahead of the 2009 Greek legislative elections. Alexis Tsipras, the leader of Syriza, is in the centre.

In 27 November 2007, Alavanos announced that, for private reasons, he would not be seeking to renew of his presidency of Synaspismós.^[28] The 5th party congress of Synaspismós elected 33-year-old Alexis Tsipras, a municipal councillor for the municipality of Athens, as party president on 10 February 2008. Alavanos retained the parliamentary leadership of Syriza, however, as Tsipras was not at that time a member of parliament. Tsipras achieved considerable popularity with the Greek electorate, which led to a significant increase in support for Syriza in opinion polls – up to 18 percent at its peak.^[29]

At the end of June 2008, Xekinima announced that it would join the coalition.^[30]

During the run-up to the 2009 European Parliamentary elections Syriza, amid turbulent internal developments, saw its poll share dive to 4.7%, with the result that only one Syriza candidate (Nikos Hountis) was elected to the European Parliament. This caused renewed internal strife, leading to the resignation of former Synaspismós president Alekos Alavanos from his seat in the Greek parliament, a resignation that was, however, withdrawn a few days later.^[31]

In the Greek legislative elections of October 2009, Syriza won 4.6% of the vote (slightly below its 2007 showing), returning 13 MPs. These included Tsipras, who took over as Syriza's parliamentary leader.

In June 2010, the Ananeotiki ("Renewing Wing") of radical social democrats in Synapsismós split away from the party, at the same time leaving Syriza. This reduced Syriza's parliamentary group to 9 MPs. The 4 MPs who left formed a new party, the Democratic Left.

2012 general elections [edit]

In a move of voters away from the parties which participated in the coalition government under the premiership of Lucas Papademos in November 2011, Syriza gained popular support in the opinion polls, as did the Communist Party of Greece and the Democratic Left. Opinion polls in the run-up to the May 2012 election showed Syriza with 10-12% support.^[32] The minor Unitary Movement (a PASOK splinter group) also joined the coalition in March 2012.

In legislative elections in May 2012, the party polled over 16% and quadrupled its number of seats, becoming the second largest party in parliament, behind New Democracy.^[33] After the election, Tsipras was invited by the president of Greece to try to form a government, but failed to form a government of the Left owing to a lack of parliamentary numbers. Subsequently, Tsipras rejected a proposal by the president to join a coalition government with the pro-austerity parties.^[34]

For the second general election in June 2012, Syriza re-registered as a single party (adding the "Unitary Social Front" moniker) instead of as a coalition, in order to be eligible to receive the 50 "bonus" seats given to the largest polling party under the Greek electoral system.^[35] However, although Syriza increased its share of the vote to just under 27%, New Democracy polled 2.8% more than Syriza and claimed the bonus. With 71 seats, Syriza became the main opposition party, facing a governing coalition of ND, PASOK, and the Democratic Left.

Participating parties [edit]

This section may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. (March 2012)

Coalition supporters in a 2007 rally. Flags of Synaspismós, AKOA, DIKKI, and Kokkino can be seen, as well as those of the coalition itself.

With the aforementioned additions, the coalition currently comprises the following parties (in alphabetical order):^[36]

• Active Citizens (Ενεργοί Πολίτες): democratic socialism, patriotism
• Anticapitalist Political Group (ΑΠΟ): communism, trotskyism
• Communist Organization of Greece (KOE): maoism, communism
• Democratic Social Movement (DIKKI): left-wing nationalism, socialism,^[37] euroscepticism^[38]
• Ecosocialists: eco-socialism, left ecology
• Internationalist Workers' Left (DEA): revolutionary socialism, communism, trotskyism
• Union of the Democratic Centre (EDIK)
• Movement for the United in Action Left (KEDA): communism
• Radical Left Group Roza
• Radicals (Ριζοσπάστες): democratic socialism, patriotism
• Red (Κόκκινο): communism, trotskyism
• Renewing Communist Ecological Left (AKOA): democratic socialism, eurocommunism, green politics
• Synaspismós (SYN): democratic socialism,^[39] eco-socialism,^[4] eurocommunism,^[5] environmentalism,^[39] feminism^[39]
• Unitary Movement: democratic socialism, social democracy
• New Fighter: democratic socialism, social democracy
• And several independent leftist activists

Electoral results [edit]

Parliament [edit]

Election year	# of overall votes	% of overall vote	# of overall seats won	+/-	Notes
2004	241,539	3.3 (#4)	6 / 300
2007	361,211	5.0 (#4)	14 / 300	8
2009	315,627	4.6 (#5)	13 / 300	1
2012 (May)	1,061,265	16.8 (#2)	52 / 300	39
2012 (Jun)	1,655,053	26.9 (#2)	71 / 300	19

European Parliament [edit]

European parliament [edit]

Syriza holds 1 seat in the European parliament.

• Nikos Hountis

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Coalition of the Radical Left

• Coalition of the Radical Left
• Active Citizens
• Communist Organization of Greece
• Democratic Social Movement
• Ecological Intervention
• Internationalist Workers Left
• Kokkino
• Movement for the United in Action Left
• Popular Unions of Bipartisan Social Groups
• Renewing Communist Ecological Left
• Synaspismos
• Xekinima

v t e Political parties in Greece Hellenic Parliament (300) New Democracy (125) incl. Democratic Alliance Coalition of the Radical Left (71) incl. Active Citizens Coalition of Left Movements and Ecology Communist Organization of Greece Democratic Social Movement Internationalist Workers' Left Movement for the United in Action Left New Fighter Renewing Communist Ecological Left Unitary Movement Panhellenic Socialist Movement (28) Independent Greeks (18) incl. Panhellenic Citizen Chariot Golden Dawn (18) Democratic Left (14) incl. Free Citizens Communist Party of Greece (12) Independent (13) Radical Movement of Social Democratic Alliance (1) European Parliament (22) New Democracy (EPP, 8) Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PES, 8) Coalition of the Radical Left (EUL–NGL, 1) Popular Orthodox Rally incl. Ecologists Greece (EFD, 2) Communist Party of Greece (EUL–NGL, 2) Ecologist Greens (EGP, 1) Unrepresented Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow incl. Alternative Ecologists Communist Renewal Left Anti-capitalist Group Left Group Left Recomposition New Left Current Organization of Communist Internationalists of Greece–Spartacus Revolutionary Communist Movement of Greece Socialist Workers' Party Christian Democracy Communist Party of Greece (Marxist–Leninist) Marxist–Leninist Communist Party of Greece Democratic Regional Union Democratic Revival Fighting Socialist Party of Greece Front of Solidarity and Overthrow Greek Ecologists Greek Unity I Don't Pay Movement Koinonia Party Liberal Party Movement for the Reorganization of the Communist Party of Greece 1918–1955 National Hope National Unity Association Organization for the Reconstruction of the Communist Party of Greece Organisation of Internationalist Communists of Greece Party of Greek Hunters Pirate Party of Greece Pirates - Direct Democratic Movement of Greece Popular Unions of Bipartisan Social Groups Rainbow Recreate Greece incl. Democrats Drasi Liberal Alliance Social Agreement Social League Union of Centrists United Popular Front Workers Revolutionary Party Xekinima – Socialist Internationalist Organisation Politics Portal Greece Portal Cabinet of Greece Elections in Greece Politics of Greece

	Greece portal
	Politics portal
	Communism portal
	Socialism portal