Alexis Tsipras resigns as Syriza leader after losing Greek elections

The former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has announced this Thursday his resignation as leader of Syriza after the important defeat reaped by this party in the parliamentary elections last Sunday in Greece. In the aforementioned elections, the formation of New Democracy, led by Kyriakos Mitsotakisobtained an absolute majority.

Tsipras, who aspired to head a progressive coalition, has proposed a renewal of the leadership of the formation with which he came to power in 2015. Thus, he hopes to move towards “a new Syriza” that responds to the challenges.

The former Greek president has been proud of everything he has achieved during a stage that he himself has described as “very difficult”, marked by the bailout and the Greek debt crisis.

The until now leader has confirmed that will not be a candidate in the future internal processat the end of a meeting of the executive committee of the formation in Athens, reports the chain

Syriza obtained 17.84% of the votes and 47 seats in the last elections, compared to the 158 deputies that New Democracy achieved thanks to achieving 40.56% of the votes. The voting was marked by a record level of abstention -over 47%- and the entry of eight parties into Parliament.

[El conservador Mitsotakis arrasa en las elecciones de Grecia y será reelegido primer ministro]

Despite the fact that the country’s economy has not yet reached the levels prior to the 2010 debt crisis, the Greeks recognized in the elections held last Sunday the good command of New Democracy at the head of the Government.

In this sense, changes have been undertaken such as the increase in pensions and salaries or the creation of a framework that encourages investment international in the Hellenic country.

Despite the fact that their government has faced scandals, such as the wiretapping of an opposition politician and journalists, the Greeks voted more with their pockets than thinking of possible democratic setbacks.