Course of Freedom
Πλεύση Ελευθερίας
PresidentZoe Konstantopoulou
FounderZoe Konstantopoulou
Founded19 April 2016
Split fromPopular Unity[1]
IdeologyLeft-wing nationalism[2][3][4][5]
Sovereigntism[6]
Anti-austerity[7][8][9]
Left-wing populism[6][10]
Progressivism[11][12]
Euroscepticism[13][14]
Radicalism[15][16]
Colours  Purple
  Turquoise
Slogan"We look neither right nor left. We look forward."[17]
Hellenic Parliament
6 / 300
European Parliament
0 / 21
Website
www.plefsieleftherias.gr

Course of Freedom (Greek: Πλεύση Ελευθερίας, romanized: Plefsi Eleftherias) is a Greek anti-establishment[13][18][6] political party founded on 19 April 2016, by former President of the Hellenic Parliament, Zoe Konstantopoulou.[19]

History

After the agreement for the Third Economic Adjustment Programme for Greece by the first government of SYRIZA-ANEL, Zoe Konstantopoulou dissociated herself from the views of the party and participated in the following legislative elections as the leader of Popular Unity in Athens A'.[20] However, the party did not manage to achieve the electoral threshold for representation in the legislature.

On 19 April 2016, she announced the founding of Course of Freedom. According to its founding declaration, the party's purpose of action consists of democracy, justice, transparency, rights, debt cancellation and claim for World War II reparations.[21]

Konstantopoulou, along with the party, had attended and called for support of the "Macedonia name" anti-Prespa Agreement mass protests of 2018 and 2019, with the slogan "I'm not ceding my homeland", having been the only political figure of the Greek left to openly do so.[22][23][6][5]

The party cooperates electorally with the I Don't Pay Movement, whose leaders were included in Course of Freedom's ballot to run in the European and Greek national elections of 2019.[24] [25]

Course of Freedom was able to enter the Hellenic Parliament at the June 2023 legislative election, scoring 3,17% and electing 8 members of Parliament.[26]

The party condemned the attacks on health facilities during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war after party president Konstantopoulou met with the Palestinian envoy, [27] expressing her support for the Palestinian people; she vowed that Course of Freedom will "be the voice" of Palestine in Greece[28]

Ideology

Course of Freedom was established on an anti-memoranda ideology,[19] based on its founder's Zoe Konstantopoulou's hardliner[29] opposition to austerity, neoliberalism, "tax inequality", Greece's creditors, and the Troika,[8][30][31][32][33] and has been seen as "left-wing populist".[6][10] It has been described by some commentators as "nominally left",[34][35][36] or far-left,[37][38][9][39] although Konstantopoulou describes it as anti-establishment and "neither left nor right" instead.[18] The party's political position has also been considered to be "catch-all",[36] accruing support from both left-wing and right-wing voters for generalized anti-establishment positions.[6][40] The party appeals to nationalist sentiments,[34] and has been labelled as "nationalist left"[4][3][41] or left-wing nationalist.[2][42][43]

Course of Freedom's political position has also been evaluated as solely anti-establishment[13][44][45][46] or simply populist "anti-systemic".[47][8] It is considered to be a sovereignist formation[6] and radical,[16][15] espousing a virulent rejection of all politicians while still embracing legalism and institutionalism.[6]

Konstantopoulou has criticized privatizations, taxation increases, "media oligarchs", and auctioning off and bank seizures of homes of overindebted families and electronic auctions.[11] The party has also come in support of refugees, the LGBT community, opponents to COVID-19 vaccination, and of victims of sexism and sexual violence.[6]

Course of Freedom is an Hard Eurosceptic party, with Konstantopoulou calling it a "monstrous creation" lacking in democracy that is "not a union to belong to";[14][48] the party's founding declaration denounces "Eurobureaucracy" as totalitarianism.[49]

Konstantopoulou and the party have also launched a "Don't Pay" movement and a campaign of "general disobedience" towards debts, taxes and insurance contributions since 2017.[50]

Positions

The party's positions include the cancellation of the country's national debt (that Zoe Konstantopoulou has previously during her time in government affirmed as "illegal, illegitimate, odious and unsustainable" and "unconstitutionally accumulated"[51] based on the report of the Hellenic Parliament's Greek Debt Truth Commission[52]), opposition to the Prespa naming agreement on North Macedonia's name and calling for a referendum on it,[53] claiming German war reparations and loans of up to €350 billion,[14] additional compensation for Nazi atrocities,[18] and opposition to mandatory vaccination.[54]

Its founding declaration supports positions of popular democracy and participatory democracy, and includes proposals like the institutionalization of mandatory referendums, citizen participation in the justice system, renationalization of all public enterprises and public assets, the dissolution of the HRADF S.A, and an accountancy audit of Greek debt, insurance funds and state-owned institutions.[49]

Composition

Participating partners

Τhe following members are nationally affiliated by running in elections using Course of Freedom's ballot:

Party Ideology Position
I Don't Pay Movement (party)

Κίνημα Δεν Πληρώνω (κόμμα)

 Activism
Euroscepticism
Civil Disobedience		 Far-left

Election results

Hellenic Parliament

Election Hellenic Parliament Rank Government Leader
Votes  % ±pp Seats won +/−
2019 82,673 1.46% New
0 / 300
 New #8 Extra-parliamentary Zoe Konstantopoulou
May 2023 170,298 2.89% +1.43
0 / 300
 Steady 0 #7 Extra-parliamentary
Jun 2023 165,210 3.17% +0.28
8 / 300
 Increase 8 #8 Opposition

European Parliament

European Parliament
Election Votes  % ±pp Seats won +/− Rank Leader
2019 81,269 1.6% New
0 / 21
 - #8 Zoe Konstantopoulou

References

  1. ↑ Lafazanis: We wish you success in the "Freedom Sailing" of Zoi :"Panagiotis Lafazanis commented on the change of course of Zoe Konstantopoulou, who separated her position from LAE by founding the "Pleusi Eleftherias" party." TV without Frontiers 19 Apr 2016, Retrieved 26/06/2023
  2. 1 2 "Parliamentary elections in Greece: Mitsotakis outclasses the left". Die Tageszeitung (taz.de). 22 May 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 New Greek Parliament Barron's (newspaper) June 26, 2023, Retrieved 27/06/2023
  4. 1 2 What To Know As Greece Votes Again In Legislative Polls Neos Kosmos (newspaper) June 17, 2023, Retrieved 27/06/2023
  5. 1 2 The Macedonia Question "...they also touched a chord on sectors of a "patriotic left"...the rally was also supported by Zoe Konstantopoulou, the former president of the Greek parliament and founder of the "Course of Freedom" movement", Jacobin.com by Stathis Kouvelakis March 2018, Retrieved 24 June 2019
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Syriza's Electoral Quagmire Reflects Its Crushing of Greeks' Hopes, Jacobin.com 06/09/2023, Retrieved 16/05/2023
  7. ↑ "Zoe Konstantopoulou: Each child in Greece owes 32,500 euros". ThemaNews. Proto Thema. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 Greece Just Elected the Most Right-Wing Parliament Since the Return to Democracy "Course for Freedom" Jacobin (magazine) 06.28.2023, Retrieved 29/06/2023
  9. 1 2 Greece's Political Fringes Seek Entry into Parliament as Center-Right Dominates BNN 25/06/2023, Retrieved 01/07/2023
  10. 1 2 "New Greek PM vows to press ahead with ambitious reforms". The Guardian. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  11. 1 2 If you love Greece, help us get rid of Alexis Tsipras and his zombie party : "We ask for the support of all progressives, including our friends in the Labour party..." The Guardian by Zoe Konstantopoulou 7 September 2018, Retrieved 24/06/2019
  12. ↑ "Why Greece's Left May Give Conservatives A Smooth Sail To Victory". HuffPost. The Huffington Post. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 "Greece". Europe Elects. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  14. 1 2 3 European elections 2019: Love and hate in EU after economic rescues BBC 13 May 2019, Retrieved 21/06/2023
  15. 1 2 Why the Left Fell and the Right Rose in Greece, Politics Today, July 31, 2023, Retrieved 15 September 2023
  16. 1 2 "New Democracy Victory Reinforces Political Continuity in Greece". FitchSolutions.com. BMI Research. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  17. ↑ Z. Konstantopoulou: "The attack on the Freedom Cruise is neither from within nor spontaneous" : "...the other parties are even stealing the slogans of Freedom of Navigation. In particular, "since 2019, we have been saying "we are neither looking to the right nor to the left, we are looking forward...", ERT, Ert-news 12/06/2023, Retrieved 22/06/2023
  18. 1 2 3 Zoe Konstantopoulou: Mr. Tsipras is destroying the country : "Precisely how would Plefsi Eleftherias describe its political identity? Some critics say that you do not belong to the Left [...] We are a force that aims to overturn the establishment, and we are appealing to all democratically active citizens, without the walls of old-party divisions. We look neither to the Left nor the Right" in.gr 21 October 2018, Retrieved 24 June 2019
  19. 1 2 Evgenia Choros (15 April 2016). "Zoe Konstantopoulou to Present New Party 'Course to Freedom'". Greek Reporter. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  20. ↑ "Zoe bolts SYRIZA, will cooperate with new radical left party". Proto Thema. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  21. ↑ "Ιδρυτική Διακήρυξη". Freedom Sailing. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  22. ↑ Greeks not ready to give up the name Macedonia Kosovo 2.0 09.02.2018, Retrieved 29/06/2023
  23. ↑ Konstantopoulou: I am not ceding my homeland, I am not erasing its history in.gr January 19, 2019, Retrieved 29/06/2023
  24. ↑ "European elections 2019: The leaders of "I don't pay" on the Konstantopoulou ballot". CNN.gr. CNN. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  25. ↑ "Konstantopoulou: The vote on Freedom Sailing will only be the beginning". CNN,gr. CNN. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  26. ↑ Schminke, Tobias Gerhard (5 June 2023). "Greek centre-right set to win second election round". Euractiv.
  27. ↑ "Greece working with UN to send aid to Gaza". ekathimerini.com. Kathimerini. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  28. ↑ "Z. Konstantopoulou: Freedom Sailing will be the voice of Palestine in our country". ERTNews. Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  29. ↑ Greek ruling party heads toward split before bailout vote Reuters August 13, 2015, Retrieved 21/06/2023
  30. ↑ "Meet The Latest Rising Greek Political Star Who Says No To Austerity". HuffPost. The Huffington Post. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  31. ↑ "Zoe Konstantopoulou announces new party". themanews.com. Proto Thema. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  32. ↑ "Greece: Can't pay, is paying". Red Pepper. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  33. ↑ ""This is not a time for splitting up, but for convergence." An interview with Zoe Konstantopoulou". openDemocracy. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  34. 1 2 Konstantopoulou aims to double her party's vote Kathimerini, e-Kathimerini 28/05/2023, Retrieved 16/05/2023
  35. ↑ Ruling New Democracy wins Greek elections, far-right make gains, pseudo-left Syriza routed World Socialist Web Site 26/06/2023, Retrieved 27/06/2023
  36. 1 2 "Party leaders agree on a second poll". No. 25.05.2023. Kathimerini. e-Kathimerini. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  37. ↑ "Greece: Parties at a glance". PolitPro. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  38. ↑ "Greek prime minister earns resounding electoral win, as far right makes gains". Edition CNN. CNN. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  39. ↑ The true message from the ballot box Kathimerini, e-Kathimerini 27.06.2023, Retrieved 29/06/2023
  40. ↑ Aims and expectations in Sunday's election Kathimerini, e-Kathimerini 21/05/2023, Retrieved 21/06/2023
  41. ↑ New elections in Greece: How owls carry to Athens Die Tageszeitung (taz.de) 24/5/2023, Retrieved 01/7/2023
  42. ↑ "Greek Election: No good News for migrants and refugees". Lens.Civicus.org. CIVICUS. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  43. ↑ Mitsotakis before his second term 26 June 2023 Die Tageszeitung (taz.de) , Retrieved 8 September 2023
  44. ↑ Conservative New Democracy wins majority in Greek parliamentary elections, far-right makes gains The People's Dispatch June 26, 2023, Retrieved 26/06/2023
  45. ↑ Poll gives New Democracy 21.5-point lead over SYRIZA Kathimerini, e-Kathimerini 23/06/20230, Retrieved 26/06/2023
  46. ↑ Kathimerini, e-Kathimerini 13/06/20230, Retrieved 27/06/2023
  47. ↑ Populist Right Finds Fertile Ground in Greece Agenda Pūblica 26/06/2023, Retrieved 27/06/2023
  48. ↑ Kordas, George (10 July 2023). "What the 2023 elections told us about anti-establishment politics in Greece". EUROPP - European Politics and Policy Blog. London School of Economics and Political Science.
  49. 1 2 Ιδρυτική Διακήρυξη Πλεύσης Ελευθερίας The Founding Declaration of Course of Freedom
  50. ↑ "'I don't pay' movement by Zoe Konstantopoulou". Parapolitika. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  51. ↑ Greek debt 'illegal, illegitimate and odious' BBC, BBC News 18 June 2015, Retrieved 24/06/2023
  52. ↑ Hellenic Parliament's Debt Truth Committee Preliminary Findings - Executive Summary of the report Hellenic Parliament Press Office June 17, 2015, Retrieved 24/06/2023
  53. ↑ Greek parliament votes in support of Macedonia name change : "Zoe Konstantopoulou, former parliamentary speaker for Syriza and now leader of the pseudo-left Course of Freedom (Plevsi Eleftherias), called in the newspaper Ta Nea for a referendum on the deal.", World Socialist Web Site 30 January 2019, Retrieved 30/06/2023
  54. ↑ "Surprise performance for two minor parties". eKathimerini. Καθημερινή. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
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