In Heraklion, Crete, on Monday, May 26, 2025, the president of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, Socrateswhere he gave a press conference to the local media. The visit is part of the tour of the party’s conference, which, as he pointed out, aims at a radical renewal.
SYRIZA renewal for another “other Greece”
Mr Famellos emphasized that the upcoming SYRIZA-PS Congress (12-15 June) would signal a “big change” both at the political level, with new, elaborate proposals for Greek society, and in organizational. The goal, he said, is the party to “escape all over the malice of the past” and to actively contribute to the change of the country, freeing it from the “dystopia created by Mr Mitsotakis”. The vision of SYRIZA-PS, according to its chairman, is a Greece with a strong state that will support citizens, businessmen, workers and vulnerable groups, with a focus on the region, decentralization and the treatment of demographics. This requires a new, decentralized productive model with economic pluralism, so that wealth is not concentrated in a few, and with decisive support for public goods such as health, education, water and roof.
Severe criticism of government
The SYRIZA-PS President has criticized the government for the situation in Crete. Referring to Public Health, after his visit to Venizelio, he spoke of a depreciation plan for the benefit of individuals, pointing out extreme staff shortages, thousands of less surgeries than 2019, debt and licenses, closed and surgical clinics. He expressed concern about the staffing of the PAGNI Pediatric Psychiatric Department and the Great Waiting for PET Scan, as well as the non -operation of machinery such as the coronary weddingographer in Venizelio, scheduled for SYRIZA.
For Arkalochori, four years after the earthquake, Mr Famellos complained that “almost nothing has been done”, with hundreds of ready -made real estate not to be demolished, minimal repair licenses, continuing seizures in earthquake -stricken, non -restricted infrastructure. At the same time, he expressed his concern about discussions of the privatization of irrigation water and DEYAs, which will create dead ends for farmers.
On agricultural issues, the president of SYRIZA-PS referred to the “huge OPECEPE billion scandal”, which is affecting the farmers, and the “first” of Crete with BOAK, where tolls are foreseen before the construction of the project, which already presents. He also criticized the Presidential Decree for the settlements of less than 2,000 inhabitants, arguing that it was aimed at depreciating small property for the benefit of “savvy”. Problems also pointed out in RES, where minor investors and energy communities are at risk of bankruptcy, while PPC accumulates a surplus.
Economy, work and social cohesion
Socrates Famellos stressed that both employees and businesses in Crete are affected by extreme accuracy, with banks and energy cartels treasure. The result is low purchasing power, revenue shrinkage and business closure. In the field of work, despite tourism development, problems are identified due to lack of collective agreements, inadequate unemployment benefits and a serious security problem, with a labor accident every two days nationwide. He also criticized the situation in tourism education and the loss of specialized staff even in technical professions.
‘Truth is not bored’
The SYRIZA-PS President announced that he will meet with the President of the Republic on Tuesday to express the anxiety and reaction to the “slaughter in the Gaza”, stressing that “life and peace are above all” and the Mitsotakis government’s faces.
For the Tempe tragedy, he assured that SYRIZA-PS works feverishly on the case file, with the aim of revealing truth and rendering justice. “The truth is not bored,” he said, stating that his party will submit a proposal for a preliminary committee, based solely on the case file, within the week. The proposal will be submitted to the new Left with the aim of gathering the necessary 30 signatures, with a spirit of respect and a willingness to improve, and will also include questions about the period of SYRIZA-PS governance.
Regarding the migration, he reiterated the position of SYRIZA-PS for European integration of politics, respect for international law, safe borders and the prevention of the causes of immigration, disagreeing with the EU plan that turns Greece into “prison of souls”.
Finally, regarding the debate over the removal of civil servants’ permanence, Mr Famellos described it as a “move of deception” by the prime minister to change the agenda. He said that SYRIZA-PS is perpendicular to the opposite, but supported the need for evaluation, but not punitive and without evaluating bosses and political responsibilities.
About cooperation
Socrates Famellos stressed that SYRIZA-PS, through his conference, will be ready with complete positions. He reiterated the choice for a progressive way out in the next election, noting that Greece “cannot wait”. Although PASOK and New Left leaders are not responding positively, he argued that the proposal for cooperation is a request by citizens and society, in which SYRIZA-PS feels obliged to respond.