Popular Unity

Panagiotis Lafazanis, a former minister and SYRIZA defector who last year launched a party called Popular Unity, has joined forces with Alekos Alavanos, one-time mentor of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who leads another small party, Plan B, which supports Greece's return to the drachma.

About 60 members of Popular Unity occupied EU offices in Athens protesting against the arrival of the troika in Greece and EU decisions on refugee.

Among the demonstrators is the head Popular Unity Panagiotis Lafazanis and Mr. Stratoulis and Leotsakos. They are protesting against EU decisions which are turning Greece into a vast hotspot.

Greece’s Parliament provided a widely expected vote of confidence to the leftist-dominated SYRIZA coalition government shortly before 2 a.m. on Thursday morning. Of the 299 MPs in Greece’s Parliament, 155 voted in favor, 144 against and 1 abstained. The abstention was that of conservative deputy Nikos Dendias, who sent a letter concerning his opinions which did not count towards the voting.

Left party ‘Popular Unity’ lead by Panagiotis Lafazanis released a statement Wednesday demanding a recount of votes in four regions of the wider Athens area.

Left-wing SYRIZA party has won the biggest share of the vote in Sunday's early elections which will give former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras the opportunity to renew his alliance with Independent Greeks and form a coalition government, ekathimerini.com reported.

With 70% of the votes counted, SYRIZA had 35.43%, which would translate into 144 seats in Parliament.

There was enthusiasm at SYRIZA’s headquarters on Koumoundourou street from the first exit polls that put the party ahead of its main rival, the conservative New Democracy party. As the night progressed with votes tallied in the party’s favor, reserved joy gave way to smiles and cheers… and the flow of whiskey.

Tsipras returned to power with a clear election win!

Right-wing populist Independent Greeks (ANEL), Popular Unity Party (Laiki Enotita) and Union of Centrists are seeking a place in Greek Parliament. Exit polls at 7 p.m. showed all three parties having a chance to gather 3% of the votes with the following estimations:

ANEL – 3-4% estimations

Leader of the leftist party Popular Unity, Panagiotis Lafazanis expressed his optimism that his party would finally enter the Greek parliament, despite the cross cross-channel exit polls giving his party between 2.5-3.5% at 7pm. He said that all should wait for the official results of the ballots.

Popular Unity leader Panagiotis Lafazanis voted a few minutes after 9am at Korydallos polling station and stated: “Our priority in this election is young people. They must say a big NO to frustration and to they are all the same”. We are called to say a big NO to austerity so as Greek young people won’t leave Greece”.