Stefanos Kasselakis Ousted as Syriza Leader

Stefanos Kasselakis was ousted as the leader of Greece's leftist opposition party Syriza by a no-confidence vote from the party's central committee, marking a significant turn in his political career just one year after his election. The vote passed with a count of 163-120 amid growing discontent over his leadership style, which critics labeled as authoritarian and misaligned with party values. Kasselakis expressed feeling 'liberated' by the decision but did not commit to future leadership contests, criticizing the party's bureaucracy for undermining the base's decision through a secret ballot. The shift in leadership comes as Syriza faces declining poll numbers, now trailing behind the socialist party Pasok. Analysts suggest Syriza is entering a precarious phase as it struggles to capitalize on the ruling conservative party's plummeting popularity. Potential candidates to succeed Kasselakis include lawmakers Pavlos Polakis and Nikolas Farantouris, who have indicated their readiness to lead the party forward.