Preceded by SYN Youth | ||
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National Council Secretary Iasonas Schinas-Papadopoulos Founded December 22, 2013 (2013-12-22) Headquarters Themistokleous 52, Exarcheia, Athens Ideology Democratic socialism
Eco-socialism
Socialism Mother party Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) | ||
SYRIZA Youth (Greek: Νεολαία ΣΥΡΙΖΑ) is the youth organization of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) in Greece. Founded in 2013, it was a member of the European Network of Democratic Young Left (Endyl).
Contents
Formation
The SYRIZA Youth was founded when the largely bottom-up structure of Young SYRIZA (Νέοι–Νέες ΣΥΡΙΖΑ) groups and the Synaspismos Youth united forming a nationwide organization.
At the founding conference on 19–22 December 2013, 522 delegates of the 128 local groups both in Greece and abroad convened in Kerameikos, Athens. The four-day conference was also attended by a number of SYRIZA leaders including party secretary Dimitris Vitsas and parliamentary spokesman Panagiotis Kouroumplis.
On 22 December, the delegates ratified the final text of the founding declaration on the first ballot. Inner-organizational tensions however culminated when the "Left Platform" opposed the final text arguing that it lacked a clear political position as a government of the Left should not accept any compromise with its creditors. The "Left Movement" voted blank after their "Charter of the Rights of Youth" had been rejected as an amendment by a majority of the delegates.
The delegates concluded with the election of 67 members of the organization's first Central Council with the more pragmatic factions winning a clear majority. Four additional members remained to be appointed as honorary members.
Founding Declaration
By its founding declaration the organization defines itself as being part of the radical left that participates in the class struggle striving to abolish all kinds of exploitation and aiming at a Socialism of the 21st century. The organization's manifesto includes ten positions:
- struggle for young peoples' rights
- anti-fascism
- alternative, non-commercial culture
- feminism against patriarchy
- pro strengthening of democratic and social rights
- anti-racism against the "Fortress Europe"
- ecological orientation
- struggle for public space appropriation
- requests free access to amateur sports
- support solidarity economy.
SYRIZA Youth upholds a quota of one third for young women to participate in all organizational bodies.
Local and international branches
Apart from branches all over Greece, the SYRIZA Youth also has a number of international branches in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Dissolution
On 1 September 2015, 38 out of 71 members of the SYRIZA Youth central council, including the national secretary Elias Panteleakοs, resigned withdrewing their support for Syriza in the forthcoming elections.