Alexis Tsipras: The ire of former colleagues over his book

From mild criticism to fierce attacks, the book has reignited public debate. Although some of the figures who star in the 762 pages - such as Panagiotis Lafazanis (Yanis Varoufakis spoke today) - have not yet taken a position, the first comments from former associates and comrades of Alexis Tsipras indicate that his writings, which are a harbinger, as everything seems, of a new party, will ignite intense controversy.

Reactions from former Tsipras associates to the book

The first to speak out publicly was Panos Skourletis, who emphasized that Alexis Tsipras' book lacks the necessary courage to deal with SYRIZA's heavy electoral defeat in 2023. As he noted to channel Action24, what the average party voter expected were convincing explanations of how, despite the complex period of government from 2015-2019, the party was led to its collapse in 2023. "I have the feeling that this is not being dealt with in a courageous manner by the author of the book," the former SYRIZA government minister and current New Left executive commented sharply.

Then, Pavlos Polakis picked up the baton, who in a particularly angry post attacked the content of Alexis Tsipras' book. The Chania MP accuses the former prime minister of citing false information and inaccuracies, even announcing that he will return with a detailed response. "Too bad...", he noted characteristically in a post on his personal Facebook account.

The former speaker of the Parliament, Zoe Konstantopoulou, also launched a frontal attack. As she said, "I will read the book, but seeing what is circulating, I am glad that a traitor records that I made it difficult for him to betray. Our mission is not to facilitate betrayal." In fact, speaking in Parliament, in the context of an event for the anniversary of the National Resistance, he pledged that he would return soon in order to provide new answers.

Nikos Pappas also made his own statement, clarifying that his relations with Alexis Tsipras remain intact. As he said, “We have an impeccable political relationship, we currently have different perspectives. Everyone has made their assessment. And I do not agree with everything he has done.”

In his book, Alexis Tsipras reveals that, after his decision to leave the leadership of SYRIZA, he initially tried to pass the “ring” of succession to Efi Achtsioglou and then to Alexis Charitsis, but neither of them accepted the proposal. This narrative was confirmed by the head of the New Left Parliamentary Group, who stated in a radio interview that their refusal deeply troubled him and preoccupied him for some time.

“There was no required political and personal preparation” to ensure unity, Alexis Charitsis said speaking to Real FM and added that the decisions taken must be seen in the context of the period and not with today's knowledge.

Stefanos Kasselakis, Alexis Tsipras' successor in the leadership of SYRIZA and now head of the Democracy Movement, also intervened in Tsipras' writings, responding via video using particularly harsh language. He accused the former prime minister of homophobia, citing the excerpt from the book that refers to the meeting in Sounio and the concern that - as described - Stefanos Kasselakis' husband expressed misgivings about how he would raise his children in PM’s residence.

"In a crescendo of homophobic gossip, Alexis claims that my husband Tyler asked his wife, Betty, how he should raise our children in Maximos Mansion. Apparently Betty's English is a little worse than Alexis's as Tyler asked her what it was like to raise their own children when they were in Maximos Mansion. But that doesn't impress me. Think about it. If I brought a female partner to Sounio, would he ever mention this in his book? It is extremely revealing of his alleged progressiveness and explains several political choices," he said.

Earlier, his husband Tyler McBeth also responded to Alexis Tsipras via Instagram, saying that “I respectfully request that my name not be used for any advertising or promotional purposes in relation to your book.”

Alexis Tsipras speaks positively of Panos Kammenos, noting that he has been institutionally consistent, despite his sometimes unusual behavior for a political leader. The reaction of the former Defense Minister and head of ANEL was brief and essentially monosyllabic: in X he wrote "The key to 2015 is the phone call with President Obama from Brussels", accompanying the post with a photo of Alexis Tsipras' closed book.