Profile of Synaspismos

SYNASPISMOS (abbreviation SYN) is a political party of the renovative, democratic and radical left, founded in June 1992. Its name, "Synaspismos", (Coalition of the Left and Progress) has been retained from its previous structure, which was a coalition of left and progressive parties and groups that was formed in 1989. The transformation was decided in 1991 after the CP of Greece (KKE) split from the Coalition. The name of the party was amended on June 1st, 2003 and since then  SYNASPISMOS is the "Coalition of the Left of Movements and Ecology".

Synaspismos identifies itself with the ideas and values of democratic socialism, ecology, feminism and anti-militarism. It believes in pluralism and considers the defense of human rights non-negotiable.

The Party's regular Congress is held every three years, electing a Central Political Committee (CPC). The Congress elects the Party President and the CPC elects its Secretary and Political Secretariat. On major issues the party members decide directly (e.g. the lists for national and European elections are composed through secret ballot among the members).

The Party is closely related with the Youth of Synaspismos (Neolaia Synaspismou).

Parliamentary representation

Since its foundation, SYN has contested 5 national and 4 European parliament elections. In October 1993, it failed to win representation in the National Parliament by 0.06% (the threshold was 3% and it got 2.94% and 203,000 votes). But in the European Parliament elections in June 1994 the party won 6.3% (408,000 votes) and elected 2 members to the European Parliament (Greece had then 25 MEPs). In subsequent elections SYN was represented both in the National and the European Parliament.

Before the National Elections in 2004, SYN participated -together with a number of smaller political organizations of the radical Left- in the foundation of a political and electoral coalition called SYRIZA (acronym for Synaspismos Rizospastikis Aristeras / Coalition of the Radical Left). SYRIZA contested in the National Elections of the same year, received 3.26% (241,539 votes) and elected 6 MPs (all members of SYN).

After a short period of internal turbulence (which resulted in a short split of SYRIZA forces into two electoral lists in the European Elections in June 2004), this Coalition was re-launched and managed to achieve extra-ordinary presence in very important social struggles. This led to a notable political enlargement and electoral reinforcement of SYRIZA.

In the last National Elections (16 September 2007), SYRIZA (by then consisting of 11 component parties and organizations*) got 5.04% (361,101 votes) and elected 14 Members of Parliament, 10 of whom are members of SYN.

In the last elections for the European Parliament (7 June 2009), SYRIZA got 4.7% (240,930 votes) and elected 1 MEP, Nikos Chountis (former Secretary of the Central Political Committee of SYN).

*The component parties and organizations of SYRIZA are the following (in parenthesis their European and/or international affiliation): Synaspismos: Coalition of the Left of Movements and Ecology (European Left) || AKOA: Renovative Communist Ecologic Left (European Left) || KOE: Communist Organization of Greece (ICMLPO) || DEA: Internationalist Workers' Left (ISO) || Kokkino (4th International) || Xekinima (CWI) || Rosa || KEDA: Movement for the Unity in Action of the Left || Energoi Polites: Active Citizens || Ecosocialists Greece (Ecosocialist International Network) || DIKKI: Democratic Social Movement

Results of the Greek National Elections that took place on October 7, 2009

Party  Seats Percentage PASOK 160 43,92% New Democracy 91 33,48% Communist Party of Greece 21 7,54% LAOS - Popular Orthodox Rally 15 5,63% SYRIZA 13 4,60% Ecogreens 0 2,53% Registered voters: 9,933,385 - Participation: 70.92%

Strong presence in Local Government

According to the October 2006 Prefectural and Municipal elections, SYN is the third party in terms of representation in local administration.
In addition, Synaspismos has a strong presence in the social field as well. SYN forces are active actors in the alterglobal movement, participating in the World, the European and the Greek Social Forum since their respective foundations. In national level, SYN has high-level representation in all major trade unions of the public and private sector as well as social movements - women and feminist organizations, peace, environmental, antiracist, human rights movements.