Alexis Tsipras, 51, the former prime minister of Greece, officially launched a new political party called the Greek Left Alliance (ELAS) on May 26, 2026, at a rally in Athens [1, 2]. Tsipras said, "Today, a new political force is being born with the goal not only of political change, but primarily of policy change" [1].
The party seeks to unify various leftist and progressive groups, including radical left, social democracy, and political ecology, presenting itself as "the governing left of the new era," Tsipras told supporters [3]. He criticized the current political system, saying, "The Greek state had fallen into the hands of a caste that treats it as spoils" and accused the country of backsliding due to "profiteering, corruption and collusion" [4, 3].
Tsipras resigned as Syriza party leader and parliamentary deputy following election defeats in 2023 [4]. His return comes amid political discontent fueled by growing living costs, corruption scandals, and the fallout from tragedies such as the 2023 Tempi train crash, which killed 57 people and intensified public pressure on the government [1, 4, 3, 2].
The ruling New Democracy party, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, faces a decline in support, dropping from 41% to 26.1% in recent polls amid investigations into EU subsidy fraud and ministerial resignations [2]. By contrast, Tsipras's new party polls at 12.8%, placing it second behind New Democracy [2]. The political climate is further strained by rising energy prices and the economic impact of the war in Iran, driving up living costs [1, 4].
Tsipras has set out priorities that include restoring trust in government, reinforcing the rule of law and institutional independence, and combating corruption and economic hardship [1, 4, 2].
Greece is expected to hold national elections by spring 2027, before assuming the EU presidency in July 2027 [1, 4]. The Greek Left Alliance will aim to make gains ahead of that vote.
