Addressing the party congress of main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance on Saturday evening, Parliament Vice-President Olga Gerovasili announced that she will stand as a candidate for the party's presidency, against current party leader Stefanos Kasselakis.

"A few months before the European Parliament elections, our party is being plunged into introversion....we cannot let things stand as they are. All of us have a responsibility. I have a share of the responsibility, both for what happened before and for now. I heard the president's public invitation: my reply to this challenge is that I am here. This is demanded by my sense of responsibility toward the members of SYRIZA-PA, toward the progressive people of the country," she said.

"Today, at this very difficult moment, I declare myself present. To stop the downward slide. For SYRIZA-PA to recover....so the progressive space is once more the protagonist," she added.