Movement for Democracy (Greece)

Movement for Democracy (Greek: Κίνημα Δημοκρατίας, romanized: Kínima Dimokratías) is a political party formed in Greece on 23 November 2024 by the former leader of Syriza, Stefanos Kasselakis after the party's extraordinary congress refused to approve his candidacy in the internal elections.^[3] The party's founding declaration was signed by, among others, five independent MPs, formerly members of the Syriza parliamentary group.^[4]

Movement for Democracy Κίνημα Δημοκρατίας Kínima Dimokratías
President	Stefanos Kasselakis
Spokesperson	Michalis Chourdakis [el]
Founder	Stefanos Kasselakis
Founded	23 November 2024; 7 months ago (2024-11-23)
Split from	SYRIZA
Headquarters	Tavros, Athens
Membership	35,000[1]
Ideology	Pro-Europeanism[2]
Political position	Centre[2]
European affiliation	European Democratic Party
Colours	Purple   Dark Orange
Website
kinimadimokratias.gr
Politics of Greece Political parties Elections

History

Syriza and Kasselakis

Following Syriza's disappointing performance in the May and June 2023 legislative elections, Alexis Tsipras, its long-time leader, stood down from his position. In the following leadership election, Kasselakis as an outsider candidate was elected to succeed Tsipras.^[5] Kasselakis set about moving the party towards the centre, a controversial move which led to several figures leaving Syriza and the formation of party splits, including New Left.^[6]

Internally, Syriza faced a crisis when key officials of central committee of the party attempted and succeeded to oust Kasselakis as party leader on accusations of "autocratic behavior".^[7] Kasselakis attempted to stand as a candidate in the new leadership election but was barred.^[6]

New party

Following his expulsion from Syriza, Stefanos Kasselakis announced the creation of a new political initiative. Initially unnamed, he opened the party's name to a public vote. ^[8] On November 23, 2024, he unveiled the party’s name as "Kínima Dimokratías" (transl.: Movement for Democracy)

In April 2025, the party formalized its internal structures in preparation for elections later that month. It also expressed its intent to join the European Democratic Party (EDP). A proposal for membership was submitted to party members for an internal vote on April 8–9. On April 10, 2025, Kínima Dimokratías officially joined the EDP. ^[9]

In May 2025, the party held elections for its presidency. Kasselakis faced a challenge from Elias Michalakopoulos, a fellow party member. Kasselakis secured the presidency with 96.8% of the vote.^[10]

Affiliated members of parliament

The party has stated it seeks to at some point in 2025 to form an official parliamentary group.^[11] Until such time those MPs who are members or are affiliated with the party in a personal capacity sit as independents within parliament.

Evangelos Apostolakis, an independent (formerly SYRIZA) MP, has been associating himself with the party, but has not joined the party.^[12]

Name	Constituency	Former party	Joined	Notes	Ref.
Rallia Christidou	Athens B3	SYRIZA	23 September 2024 (2024-09-23)		[4]
Giota Poulou	Boeotia
Alexandros Avlonitis	Corfu
Theodora Tzakri	Pella
Kyriaki Malama	Chalkidiki
Michalis Chourdakis	Thessaloniki A	Course of Freedom	28 January 2025 (2025-01-28)	Press spokesperson[a]	[15]

1. Chourdakis attempted to resign from the party and his position on 30 January 2025 surrounding his position on the Prespa Agreement, but his resignation was rejected by Kasselakis.^[13][14]