ATHENS, Greece — The former Greek prime minister who battled European creditors during his nation’s financial crisis has made his political comeback, announcing the formation of a new party ahead of upcoming elections.
Alexis Tsipras unveiled the Greek Left Alliance on Tuesday during a rally held outdoors near the Acropolis, with enthusiastic supporters in attendance.
“We cannot stand by and watch society suffocate,” Tsipras declared, claiming the current center-right administration’s business-friendly policies have increased income disparity. “We don’t want to get used to a world of war and injustice.”
The 51-year-old politician has concluded a three-year hiatus from political activity, though he continues to divide public opinion.
Tsipras gained power in 2015 by pledging to eliminate the severe austerity policies required by Greece’s European lenders and the International Monetary Fund. The confrontation shook international markets as Greece nearly exited the eurozone. The country ultimately agreed to additional loans and continued austerity measures.
The former leader now aims to draw support — and possibly legislators — from competing opposition groups as he prepares to confront conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his attempt at securing a third term.
During the party launch, Tsipras emphasized affordable housing, enhanced worker protections, and growing economic disparity — issues his supporters believe could appeal to younger and working-class voters facing increased living expenses. He also denounced the administration’s strong relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Even with ongoing cost-of-living pressures and a corruption controversy affecting his administration, Mitsotakis maintains a substantial lead in polling, supported by consistent economic expansion and decreasing joblessness.
The nation’s opposition remains severely divided, with seven parties holding parliamentary seats.
Multiple new groups and smaller organizations are working to build momentum before the election. Recently, the parent of a 19-year-old college student who died in Greece’s 2023 train crash created an anti-corruption movement, increasing challenges for established opposition factions.
Supporters of Tsipras claim he protected working-class Greeks throughout the nation’s most difficult economic period and accepted difficult compromises to prevent national catastrophe.
However, detractors charge him with deceiving voters by opposing austerity measures during his campaign, then later agreeing to a strict bailout deal.
“No matter how hard Mr. Tsipras tries — investing in communication that has no substance — to bury his record deep in the ground, the truth will follow him forever,” government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said.
