Tsipras presents new party named ELAS

The name ELAS deliberately evokes Greece's primary left-wing resistance movement of World War II, a resonant historical reference that frames the party's positioning as a challenge to the political establishment rather than a continuation of the post-crisis left. On the other land, the name is also the acronym of Hellenic Police, which has made for a lot of snide commentary on social media.

 "Today, a new political force is born, aiming not just for a change of government, but a wholesale change of policy," Mr. Tsipras told the crowd.

Mr. Tsipras focused his remarks on household economics, calling high indirect taxation a "robbery" of working-class families and labeling the ruling conservative government a self-serving "caste."

He invited supporters to sign the party's founding charter as the basis for building what he described as a broad social majority.

ELAS enters a crowded opposition space. Both it and PASOK are competing to position themselves as the primary alternative to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's New Democracy ahead of the 2027 elections.

A third new entrant, Maria Karystianou's "Hope for Democracy" movement — launched by the Tempe train crash activist last week — is also competing for the same disillusioned voter pool.

Mr. Tsipras resigned as Syriza leader following severe electoral defeats.

His decision to build a new vehicle rather than return to his former party reflects the depth of the rupture with a movement he once led to power.