In less than two days, Alexis Tsipras will present, tomorrow evening from Thiseio Square, the name, emblem, and manifesto of the new party, with the only detail known so far being the red-and-blue color scheme: “blue symbolizes the homeland and red symbolizes the struggles,” as he himself announced on Saturday morning.This color combination was not chosen, of course, because they are the colors of Barcelona (as he humorously noted), but rather to “marry” the patriotic and militant elements of the new party, just as he has implied in all his recent speeches.
The central slogan “from society—with society—for society” has also become well-known , a paraphrase of Abraham Lincoln’s “of the people, by the people, for the people , ” whom the former prime minister has referenced in his recent remarks and on other occasions. Such as the phrase “if you want to test a man’s character, give him power, ”which he invoked two years ago at a graduation ceremony at Turkey’s Koc University.
As part of the planning for tomorrow’s event, the declaration will be included in Mr. Tsipras’s speech and then posted online so that anyone who wishes to do so may sign it.
For the immediate future (until the traditional August lull), the newly reinstated political leader is planning numerous tours across the country, which will not follow the “visit-speech-departure” format, but will primarily consist of discussions in local hangouts and public spaces.
According to those close to him, Tsipras’s new initiative is now moving beyond the foundational phase, following the presentations of “Ithaca,” nearing completion, while they make special mention ofthe “hundreds of volunteers”who have been working all these months alongside the staff not only for the success of local events, but also for the establishment of “core groups.”
According to the same sources, the initial organizing core consists of Milto Hatzigiannakis, Grigoris Theodorakis, Stelios Apostolou, Eleni Stavrakaki, Marizeta Antonopoulou, Jenny Diamantopoulou, and Dimitris Halazonitis, with Giorgos Vassiliadis serving as coordinator.
Around this, they say, groups were organized in concentric circles throughout the country, with a local and thematic focus, so that the party’s organization is grounded in major social issues, such as Education, Health, the Economy, the Environment, Energy, etc.
They add that the coordination and interaction of groups and circles will be achieved by leveraging the capabilities provided by the internet and all modern technological tools.
Meanwhile , online meetings , online consultations, voting , and party referendums “will ensure the democratic character of the new organization and the participation of members in shaping its policies.”
A key tool for the above will be the online platform, which was “built” by experts and adapted by volunteers to the needs of the hybrid party.
This platform will also facilitate the registration of new members, interaction among them, and two-way communication between leadership and the grassroots.