Former prime minister Alexis Tsipras will present his political memoir “Ithaki” (Ithaca) on Wednesday evening at the Pallas Theater in Athens, in an event expected not only to reflect on his years in office but also to signal his political intentions moving forward.
According to sources, Tsipras plans to use the presentation to outline the “next day” for Greece, emphasizing the urgent need for a new mindset and a different collective political culture. His message, they say, will focus on reinvigorating citizen engagement in politics. His address is also expected to deliver a full-frontal critique of the conservative government, calling for “resistance to the absolutism of the oligarchy and kleptocracy that governs today.”
Defending the record of his 2015-2019 administration, Tsipras will highlight that he handed over a country where “the sacrifices of the people did not become direct contracts, did not become deposits in tax havens, or millions parked in murky offshore companies.” He will also target those he holds responsible for driving Greece into the bailout – “those who bankrupted the country and delivered it to the mercy of the lenders.”
Wednesday’s event will effectively mark the start of the second phase of Tsipras’ return to the political stage following his resignation as SYRIZA MP in October. He is expected to present his own vision for the country’s direction, offering a critical assessment of the political, economic, and social situation, and accusing the ruling majority of choices that have “led the country into deadlock.” He is also expected to argue that the economy remains guided by “old recipes that drove society onto the rocks,” resulting in “provocative wealth in few hands.”
Regarding the writing of “Ithaki,” Tsipras is expected to describe the book as a statement of his determination not to abandon the struggle for “historical truth and memory,” stressing that history is not the monopoly of those who consider themselves victors. Referring to the wide attention the memoir has received since its release, he will note that “Ithaki,” through what it reveals, “can defend both itself and the truth.”
In a symbolic gesture, Tsipras has arranged for the theater’s front rows to be reserved not for officials but for ordinary citizens, along with some members of the Alexis Tsipras Institute. Senior guests will be seated in the theater boxes, maintaining the event’s open-invitation character – a choice interpreted as a message about how he intends to engage politically going forward. One seat in the front row will remain empty in memory of the recently deceased former SYRIZA minister Alekos Flambouraris.
Current SYRIZA chief Sokratis Famellos is expected to attend, along with most SYRIZA MPs in Athens. Sources indicate that members of the New Left splinter group, including president Alexis Haritsis and MP Effie Achtsioglou, will also be present.