One of the things we forget is when we talk about Alexis Tsipras, in that he never became a professional politician. A professional politician with characteristics that distinguished themselves in the post-colonial years. He did not come from a well-known political hotbed, many of which are still fuming on the political stage, or as the “favorite child” of powerful actors. On the contrary, Alexey Tsipras, or “president of 15 members”, as his political opponents decidedly called him in order to discredit him, managed to function as a glue between more than 10 components and tendencies of SYRIZA, maintain balance, inspire and make it a party that claims to dominate.
Perhaps he joined the left and movements from a very early age. Perhaps he formed a whole current, perhaps with enough radicalism and romanticism, that was able to find itself in power from the margins. He may have achieved what once seemed impossible, that of having the losers of the civil war rule. He may have won three electoral contests (two in Greece and the 2014 EU elections) and a referendum. He ran the country and led the official opposition, inspired the public to resist by opposing the shock doctrine – but admittedly he made big mistakes – but he did not become a professional politician.
Although he was on the threshold of power for a long time, and then in power itself, the truth is that he never completely adopted the ways of behavior and tactics of political professionals. He made mistakes and compromises, but he did not become a cynic. And this was mostly recognized by society when, after the signing of the third memorandum, it voted again for SYRIZA, despite the attempt to deconstruct all efforts with cries of betrayal of the left and other big and – if they are formulated without much effort. – easy words.
He did not use his associates as expendable material and did not throw his ministers to the lions to satisfy the bloody instincts of the public (and forget the real problems), even in extremely pressing circumstances, when many almost urged him to do so in order to save himself and his image. a mature tactic of a professional politician. And let s/he pay for it with his/her inner circle who never reciprocated the same behavior, with many “comrades” saying “the left’s responsibility is collective” but… Alexis Tsipras has to take it and essentially turned away from him. And, of course, he was alien to the idea that law-making is a constant operation.
No wonder he was never liked by the real systems of government, even if he managed to implement the memorandum more effectively than his predecessors.
And for this reason he took so many blows. That’s why he realized that in 2023, he was fighting the battle alone while his comrades were already preparing for the next day and claiming leadership, leaving him to blame for the defeat.
And so he found himself walking in the desert. But even then he did not behave like a professional politician, did not respond to challenges and insults – even if, perhaps, he should have – he remained firm in his decisions and the position he voiced when speaking to the people. that he will support. Instead he chose to sit and plot, make a foundation (ss Alexis Tsipras Institute) and try to start a conversation for the democratic space, what needs to be done today, for the strategy, for peace, for the need for wider restructuring of the space of democracy and progress.
He insists, despite the time, on the essence of politics, the one that can change things, inspire, provide tangible and possible solutions for society. And he managed to gather in this discussion all the potential that concerns him. This discussion can be the leaven for something unifying and at the same time different from the current image of the crisis of the political system in an era that is in any case characterized by multiple crises.
And precisely because he is not a classic professional politician, he chose to talk about “we” and say that “I” should back off, a strategy he has proven to believe in and implemented.
However, many object that it would have been better if he had said, “Eliminate we, so that I may introduce the necessary i.”
Why will neither we nor Alexis Tsipras hide. If there is one person today who can mobilize all this potential, organize the debate and certainly lead, with more maturity and knowledge, but also with the same romance and vision, it is Alexis Tsipras.
And this responsibility should not and cannot be avoided.
Because he did not become a professional politician, so he cannot and should not become a retired politician.