Movement for Democracy Κίνημα Δημοκρατίας Kínima Dimokratías | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President | Stefanos Kasselakis |
| Spokesperson | Michalis Chourdakis [el] |
| Founder | Stefanos Kasselakis |
| Founded | 23 November 2024; 12 months ago (2024-11-23) |
| Split from | SYRIZA |
| Headquarters | Vasilissis Amalias Avenue, Athens |
| Membership | 35,000[1] |
| Ideology | Pro-Europeanism[2] |
| Political position | Centre[2] |
| European affiliation | European Democratic Party |
| Colours | Purple Dark Orange |
| Hellenic Parliament | 6 / 300 |
| European Parliament | 0 / 21 |
| Website | |
| kinimadimokratias.gr | |
Movement for Democracy (Greek:Κίνημα Δημοκρατίας,romanized: Kínima Dimokratías) is a political party formed inGreece on 23 November 2024 by the former leader ofSyriza,Stefanos Kasselakis after the party's extraordinary congress refused to approve his candidacy in theinternal elections.[3] The party's founding declaration was signed by, among others, five independent MPs, formerly members of the Syriza parliamentary group.[4]
Following Syriza's disappointing performance in theMay andJune 2023 legislative elections,Alexis Tsipras, its long-time leader, stood down from his position. In the followingleadership election, Kasselakis as an outsider candidate was elected to succeed Tsipras.[5] Kasselakis set about moving the party towards the centre, a controversial move which led to several figures leaving Syriza and the formation of party splits, includingNew Left.[6]
Internally, Syriza faced a crisis when key officials of central committee of the party attempted and succeeded to oust Kasselakis as party leader on accusations of "autocratic behavior".[7] Kasselakis attempted to stand as a candidate in thenew leadership election but was barred.[6]
Following his expulsion from Syriza, Stefanos Kasselakis announced the creation of a new political initiative. Initially unnamed, he opened the party's name to a public vote.[8] On 23 November, 2024, he unveiled the party’s name as "Kínima Dimokratías" (transl.:Movement for Democracy)
In April 2025, the party formalized its internal structures in preparation for elections later that month. It also expressed its intent to join theEuropean Democratic Party (EDP). A proposal for membership was submitted to party members for an internal vote on 8–9 April. On 10 April, Kínima Dimokratías officially joined the EDP.[9]
In May 2025, the party held elections for its presidency. Kasselakis faced a challenge from Elias Michalakopoulos, a fellow party member. Kasselakis secured the presidency with 96.8% of the vote.[10]
The party has stated it seeks to at some point in 2025 to form an officialparliamentary group.[11] Until such time those MPs who are members or are affiliated with the party in a personal capacity sit asindependents within parliament.
Evangelos Apostolakis, an independent (formerly SYRIZA) MP, has been associating himself with the party, but has not joined the party.[12]
| Name | Constituency | Former party | Joined | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rallia Christidou | Athens B3 | SYRIZA | 23 September 2024 (2024-09-23) | [4] | |
| Giota Poulou | Boeotia | ||||
| Alexandros Avlonitis | Corfu | ||||
| Theodora Tzakri | Pella | ||||
| Kyriaki Malama | Chalkidiki | ||||
| Michalis Chourdakis | Thessaloniki A | Course of Freedom | 28 January 2025 (2025-01-28) | Press spokesperson[a] | [15] |
