Volt co‑leader Panos Parras has described the party’s election result as a political defeat, admitting it failed to secure the critical mass of votes needed to enter parliament.
Speaking on Politis radio, Parras said the party would not seek “convenient excuses” for its performance, while acknowledging organisational weaknesses, including limited structures and reliance on volunteers, contributed to the outcome.
“It was a political defeat,” he said, stressing that the party would take responsibility for the result.
The 'Sandy' case
Referring to the 'Sandy' case, which dominated public discussion ahead of the elections, Parras admitted that some voters disagreed with the party’s handling of the issue and distanced themselves.
“Clearly some did not agree with how it was handled and we lost votes,” he said, while adding that the case alone does not fully explain the final result.
He stressed that Volt did not act as an investigator, but maintained that serious allegations must be examined promptly and independently by the authorities.
Parras also revealed that Makarios Drousiotis had initially been reluctant to join Volt’s electoral list, but eventually agreed in order to support the party.
“It is unfortunate to place blame on him or on Volt,” he said, adding that criticism from both social media and the wider public is “respected.”
“We must remain institutional and stand by what we advocate,” he said.
“The next day is difficult”
Parras acknowledged that the party now faces a difficult period, particularly in the absence of state funding and established organisational mechanisms.
He revealed that both he and co‑leader Andromachi Sophocleous have placed themselves at the disposal of the party’s political council to decide the future of the leadership.
“We are not afraid of responsibility,” he said, adding that Volt must regroup and regain momentum.
According to him, the party has already decided to reach out to individuals who have contacted it in recent days expressing support and interest in becoming involved.
Parras noted that Volt relies financially on small donations from supporters and members.
“Our strength is not money, it is people and participation,” he said.
At the same time, he confirmed that an electoral congress has been scheduled for December, with the current leadership remaining in place until then to ensure stability during any transition.
“I would change our organisational work”
Asked what he would do differently in hindsight, Parras said he would place greater emphasis on strengthening the party’s organisational structure.
He noted that in the final two weeks before the elections, the established parties’ mechanisms became more effective.
However, he made clear that Volt does not blame voters or other parties for the result, stressing that its proposals and principles remain intact.
“Our proposals are implementable, our principles remain,” he said, adding that the party needs time to establish itself as a viable alternative with concrete policy proposals.
