Andreas Panagiotopoulos resigns Greek parliamentary seat to join Tsipras's ELAS party

Resignation announced from the floor

On Monday, 9 November, independent MP Andreas Panagiotopoulos, elected for Achaia on the SYRIZA ticket, told the Greek Parliament that he intends to give up his seat. He made the announcement during a topical question he had tabled on the reopening of the Odontotos railway, which Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Giorgos Kotsiras was answering. The statement came during the plenary session, and he described that speech as the last he would give in the chamber.

According to reports, Panagiotopoulos had already handed his resignation letter to the Speaker of Parliament, filed directly after the plenary debate on his question. Reports from that day placed the announcement around midday on Monday.

Why he is leaving

Panagiotopoulos tied the timing of his exit to the political calendar rather than to the railway question alone. He opened his remarks by telling the chamber what he expected to be the case.

“This is my last speech in Parliament.”

He justified the move by pointing to the government's political situation, saying he would give up his parliamentary responsibility, not only the office, and that the prime minister had set the country on a course of campaigning:

“the prime minister declared an extended pre-election period, and we must take battle positions for the good of society.”

Path from SYRIZA to ELAS

Panagiotopoulos had left the SYRIZA parliamentary group in July 2026 and has sat as an independent since then. Earlier, at an open party meeting in Aigio, he had already announced his intention to join ELAS, the party led by Alexis Tsipras. After his speech on Monday he confirmed that he is joining ELAS.

Local reports said the countdown to his resignation had been running for several days before the announcement. The move comes as ELAS builds its presence in Achaia, the region he represents.

Who could take the seat

The first runner-up on SYRIZA's Achaia ballot is Giorgos Kyriakopoulos, who would take the seat once the resignation is formally made official. Local reports say it remains open whether he would accept it. Until then, the seat stays with Panagiotopoulos.

In his closing remarks, Panagiotopoulos thanked the presiding officer, Giannis Plakiotakis, for the cooperation and shook hands with the members of the presiding board. He also said he hoped colleagues would meet again in the next Parliament.

The question he tabled concerned the Odontotos, and he presented his resignation as linked to that issue for Achaia. Whether the railway's reopening moves forward now depends on the ministry's response, which the sources do not report.