Former SYRIZA Member of Parliament Symeon Kedikoglou has announced his decision to join the Greek Left Alignment, known as ELAS, a political movement led by former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
Kedikoglou made the announcement through a social media video posted on Facebook on Wednesday night, August 19, 2026. The video shows the former lawmaker completing his formal registration for Tsipras political party.
In the posted video, Kedikoglou incorporated scenes from director Christopher Nolan cinematic film Odyssey. Accompanying the visual clips, the former parliamentarian called on citizens to embark together on a journey toward their own Ithaca.
Social media announcement and party launch
The joining of Kedikoglou marks another addition to Alexis Tsipras political party, the Greek Left Alignment. Tsipras, who served as the Prime Minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019, recently formed ELAS to establish a new political presence on the Greek left.
The party has stepped up its public strategy ahead of the annual Thessaloniki International Fair. On Wednesday, ELAS launched the first installment of a three part political documentary series, in which Tsipras stated that he maintains a strong belief in the fundamental distinction between the political left and right.
Background of the Greek Left Alignment
Symeon Kedikoglou previously served as a lawmaker for SYRIZA, the Coalition of the Radical Left, which held office in Greece under Tsipras leadership. His transition to ELAS follows broader realignments across the Greek left wing parliamentary landscape.
Recent developments within SYRIZA have reduced the parliamentary party to 10 members of parliament. The reduction occurred after senior party official Rena Dourou expelled lawmaker Theodora Kasimati from the parliamentary group and requested that former minister Olga Gerovasili surrender her legislative seat.
Symbolism of the Odyssey and Ithaca
Kedikoglou choice of visual imagery relies on classical Greek literary themes popularized globally by director Christopher Nolan film adaptation of the Odyssey. In epic tradition, the Odyssey depicts the hero Odysseus ten year journey home after the Trojan War.
In Greek political rhetoric and culture, Ithaca represents the ultimate destination of a long and challenging journey, a metaphor drawn from ancient epic poetry and famous modern works such as Cavafy poem Ithaka. By framing his registration around this metaphor, Kedikoglou presents his entry into ELAS as the start of a shared political journey.
