Popular Unity Candidacy (Piraea)

Popular Unity Candidacy Υποψηφιότητα Λαϊκής Ενότητας
Abbreviation	YLE ΥΛΕ
Leader	Stamatia Hondraki
Spokesperson in Senate	Maria Diomidis Ioannis Banakis
Founded	August 12, 2022 (2022-08-12)
Headquarters	28 Theocrita, Alikianos
Membership (2022)	2,337
Ideology	Left-wing populism Progressivism Green politics Democratic socialism Regionalism Municipalism Socialism Pro-Eucleanism Factions: Councilism Ecosocialism Soft Eucloscepticism
Political position	Left to far-left
Continental affiliation	Congress of the Workers' International (PTED) GEM (Observer) MRL (Observer)
Members	Green Alternative Piraese Section of the Workers' International Left Initiative Progressists
Colours	Dark Red
Piraean Senate	11 / 125
Website
yle.pr
Political parties

Popular Unity Candidacy (Piraean: Υποψηφιότητα Λαϊκής Ενότητας; shortened as YLE and ΥΛΕ) is a left to far-left political coalition of Piraea founded during the 2022 general election to group several sectors of the Piraean left and radical left.

YLE has been described as left-wing populist, democratic socialist and progressive in general terms, although it also exposes positions close to green politics and feminism. During its foundation, the coalition agreed on holding a Pro-Eucleanism position on international affairs and the integration of Piraea, something that caused much debate between coalition partners, and especially, with the Piraese Section of the Workers' International, where factions continue exposing signs of Soft Eucloscepticism.

It is represented in the Piraean Senate with 11 seats; counts with representation in the regional cabinets of Samariá and Lampi and holds seats in numerous municipal legislatures.

History

Stamatia Hondraki (PTED) was elected leader of the coalition during a process of open primaries.

The Popular Unity Candidacy was formalised in August of 2022, a month before the 2022 general election; however, negotiations between the four parties that compose it have been under consideration since at least February, when the Piraese Section of the Workers' International invited Green Alternative and the Independent Regionalist Union to form a broad front on the left of the PSEE. Nevertheless, differences between the three parties regarding the celebration of primary elections stalled the negotiation and the Independent Regionalist Union finally left the pact.

In July, Maria Diomidis and Ioannis Banakis refloated the idea, inviting the minor leftist parties that had been members of the same coalition but in the municipal sphere; lastly, in April, the general congress of the PTED formed a collective leadership between Banakis and Stamatia Hondraki and opened the door to share a joint platform with Green Alternative, Left Initiative and Progressists on the national politics ambient. The PTED called for primary elections to choose the figure that was going to represent the coalition during the general election; however, this caused several discussions with sectors of the Green Alternative and the two minor partners, which argued about the electoral size of the PTED. In an effort to cool down internal conflicts, Green Alternative proposed the celebration of open primaries and the replacement of representation with a collective spokesperson in the Senate. In the final days of June, the coalition elected Hondraki as leader, and formalised its political condition in August.

The long period of internal clashes, however, affected its electoral performance, suffering a major loss of seats previously held by PTED and Green Alternative. The coalition received 11 seats: 5 from PTED, 4 from PEL, 1 from Left Initiative and 1 from Progressists.

Members

Party			Leader / Secretary-General
		Green Alternative (PEL)	Maria Diomidis
		Piraese Section of the Workers' International (PTED)	Ioannis Banakis Stamatia Hondraki
		Left Initiative (ΑP)	Thomas Mitreas
		Progressists (PD)	Giorgos Alanoglou Chara Agneli

Electoral performance

General elections

Election year	Leading candidate	Piraean Senate	+/-	Government
2022	Stamatia Hondraki	11 / 125	New party	Opposition