Alexis Tsipras

After four days of intense behind-the-scenes activity at the SYRIZA congress, turmoil and a charged atmosphere that went far beyond political boundaries, the polarizing tendencies within the party remain. In spite of claims of the opposite by party officials close to the leadership, the aftertaste of the congress was more on the sour side as the image of the party appeared tarnished. 

The SYRIZA congress that ended Sunday has "obviously strengthened" his position, party leader Stefanos Kasselakis said in an interview to state broadcaster ERT Monday. 

The inner party thriller in the main opposition SYRIZA party concluded on Sunday noon, with the Congress deciding not to go to leadership elections. "We are not heading to elections-the masks have fallen," declared the party leader Stefanos Kasselakis. An unprecedented toxic party congress preceded that, marked by crowd uproar and political back-and forth.

The bomb dropped by former prime minister and SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras as the leftist party's congress was about to start is a high-risk gamble both for his own political future and that of his successor, Stefanos Kasselakis. Following the latest developments, another SYRIZA split might be imminent.

After the withdrawal of Dionysis Temponeras, SYRIZA's leadership battle is likely to end up being a race for two after Olga Gerovasili's candidature with the behind-the-scenes support of former leader Alexis Tsipras, against the incumbent Stefanos Kasselakis.

Alexis Tsipras' dynamic intervention on Thursday, a few hours before the start of SYRIZA's congress, raises many questions - some of which most likely began to be answered later in the evening.

The president of SYRIZA announced that he will be immediately informed by his lawyers if the law concerns him, as he is not a member of parliament - "I will never "sell" the world of Syriza, at any personal financial cost," he replies to the publication of news247

SYRIZA MP and member of the political secretariat, the top executive of the leftist opposition, Costas Zachariadis, has criticized the stance of party chief Stefanos Kasselakis, as expressed on the opening day of the party's congress, as divisive, while pointing to Olga Gerovasili as a potential challenger to his leadership.

Main opposition SYRIZA is entering a new leadership race in the wake of developments triggered by an intervention of its former leader Alexis Tsipras suggesting the incumbent Stefanos Kasselakis must renew his mandate with the party base.

Euclid Tsakalotos, the former finance minister and one of the 11 MPs who bolted from SYRIZA to create the New Left party, said former leader Alexis Tsipras needed to make his own self-criticism.