ATHENS, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has launched a new political party named the Greek Left Coalition (ELAS), according to a report by ERT on Wednesday.
Tsipras announced the establishment of the party on Tuesday during an event held in central Athens ahead of general elections expected next year.
"Today a new political force is born with the goal of political change," Tsipras told supporters gathered beneath the Acropolis hill.
According to the party's founding declaration, ELAS advocates social justice, democratic governance, balanced economic development and a stronger welfare state.
Tsipras served as Greece's prime minister from 2015 to 2019 as leader of SYRIZA (the Coalition of the Radical Left - Progressive Alliance)during the country's debt crisis.
SYRIZA lost the 2019 election to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the ruling New Democracy party. Tsipras resigned as SYRIZA leader in 2023 after another electoral defeat.
A recent poll published by local media showed that Tsipras' new party could become Greece's second-largest political force with support of 12.8 percent, behind the New Democracy party which remained in first place with 26.1 percent support. ■
