SYRIZA Central Committee meeting decides to hold party congress in April

Gazzetta team
SYRIZA Central Committee meeting decides to hold party congress in April
A two-day meeting of ruling SYRIZA's Central Committee ended on Sunday with the adoption of a draft resolution outlining conclusions on crucial policy issues.

The final draft included some proposed modifications, while the meeting decided that the party's Congress will be held in mid April.

It also announced a process of political dialogue with the Greek people in the run-up to SYRIZA's congress "that will provide answers to the scenarios constructed and put forward by various centres recently concerning political alliances and national unity governments."

The text noted that SYRIZA's goals, during its second period of governance, will be a "deep and radical reform of the economic, productive and social model of the country, with emphasis on supporting worker rights and salaries, active support of employment, expanding the social state, protecting property and a redistribution of wealth in favour of those hit by the crisis and protecting the environment."

It also referred to the party's role relative to the government and its work, calling for a "shared responsibility and an organic connection with the government," and to efforts to reorganise SYRIZA's youth group. On the refugees crisis, it noted the Greek government's role in highlighting its nature as a European, rather than Greek, crisis and problem.

Addressing the meeting on Saturday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had noted a need for the party to be more closely linked and involved with the government. He clarified, however, that this was not so that it would become a part of the state and "joint manager of corruption and clientelist networks, as the parties of the old political system had done, but to ensure mediation between the government and society."

Tsipras said that SYRIZA had to play a leading role in the formation and change of social relations, as well as having a constant and autonomous presence "on the ground" in neighbourhoods, trade unions, work places and other areas.