Crunch time for SYRIZA
The upcoming SYRIZA party conference will be a key turning point in the evolution of Alexis Tsipras’s leftist grouping.
This newspaper has often expressed the opinion that Greece needs a good opposition party just as much as it needs a good government, mainly because the people need to feel that they have viable alternatives.
Many people are expecting SYRIZA to present a realistic and long-term plan for governance that steers clear of populist and extreme positions, and Tsipras now has the task of choosing between embracing the edicts of leftism and coming up with a convincing proposal.
The fact that he has so far opposed every large investment, every privatization plan and every reform shows that he remains hostage to his ideological roots and inter-party forces.
SYRIZA has had enough time since the last elections to grow politically and to mature. The conference will show whether it is ready to espouse more responsible and realistic positions.
