Greece's Syriza risks opposition status after ousting its leader

Syriza, the once radical leftwing force that set Europe alight with its anti-austerity rhetoric at the height of Greece's debt crisis, is on the verge of being replaced as the country's main opposition party after the removal of its leader, Stefanos Kasselakis, and his decision to start a new political party.

- Helena Smith

At least five Syriza deputies are expected to officially inform parliament today of their decision to leave the party, resulting in the group's parliamentary presence being reduced to 30 lawmakers - one fewer than the centre-left Pasok.

"Syriza is about to lose its status as the main opposition," said Stelios Kouloglou, a prominent former Syriza MEP. "Stefanos Kasselakis, the man who many saw as the messiah, will be remembered as the gravedigger who ultimately buried the [party's] corpse that died under his watch."