ATHENS, Greece -- Greece's firebrand opposition leader, Alexis Tsipras, announced his decision Thursday to step down as leader of the left-wing Syriza party, days after a crushing general election defeat.
Tsipras, 48, served as Greece's prime minister from 2015 to 2019 during politically tumultuous years as the country struggled to remain in the eurozone and end a series of international bailouts.
"I have therefore decided to propose the election of a new leadership by the members of the party ... Of course I will not be a candidate," Tsipras said in a televised address.
"I make no secret of the fact that this is a painful decision ... I don't take hasty decisions. I put them under my pillow and torture myself with them first," he added.
In Sunday's general election, Tsipras' left-wing Syriza party received just under 18% of the vote -- losing almost half its support over the past four years -- while Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' winning New Democracy party topped 40%.
"The party must take difficult and courageous decisions, which are called upon to serve a new vision. This obviously concerns me too," Tsipras said.
Heading Syriza since 2012, Tsipras forged a more cohesive party, taking it from a small political group to general election victory in 2015 on a pledge to push back on harsh austerity measures demanded by bailout lenders from other eurozone members and the International Monetary Fund. The effort proved unsuccessful and Greece was given a third bailout later that year to avoid bankruptcy and an exit from the shared euro currency. He eased his combative stance toward the European Commission and eventually forged closed ties with European leaders. He was widely praised by Western allies for finalizing an agreement with North Macedonia that ushered Greece's neighbor into NATO and advanced its effort to join the European Union.
Although regarded as a skillful politician, Tsipras' main opponent said he hoped the opposition leader's departure would improve the quality of political debate.
"I think [the] decision was to be expected," the conservative Mitsotakis said while attending a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels. "Syriza, both in government and in opposition, was a party characterized by toxicity, divisive rhetoric and with striking inefficiency," Mitsotakis said. "Political parties must unite citizens and propose realistic, cost-effective and workable solutions to people's problems -- a road Syriza has never taken. I sincerely hope it does now."
Tsipras is expected to stay on as leader for several weeks until his successor is elected by the party's rank-and-file membership.
FILE - Leader of Syriza left-wing party Alexis Tsipras speaks to his supporters after his election victory outside Athens University Headquarters, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. Greece's left-wing opposition leader, Alexis Tsipras has announced his decision to step down after a crushing election defeat. Tsipras made the announcement on Thursday, June 29, 2023. The 48 year-old politician served as Greece's prime minister from 2015 to 2019 during politically tumultuous years as the country struggled to remain in the euro zone and end a series of international bailouts. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)
FILE - Opposition leader Alexis Tsipras, head of the left-wing Syriza party, leaves after voting at a polling station in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Greeces left-wing opposition leader, Alexis Tsipras has announced his decision to step down after a crushing election defeat. Tsipras made the announcement on Thursday, June 29, 2023. The 48 year-old politician served as Greeces prime minister from 2015 to 2019 during politically tumultuous years as the country struggled to remain in the euro zone and end a series of international bailouts. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas, File)
FILE - German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and Alexis Tsipras talk to the media during a press conference after their meeting in Athens, Greece, Jan. 10, 2019. Greece's left-wing opposition leader, Alexis Tsipras has announced his decision to step down after a crushing election defeat. Tsipras made the announcement on Thursday, June 29, 2023. The 48 year-old politician served as Greece's prime minister from 2015 to 2019 during politically tumultuous years as the country struggled to remain in the euro zone and end a series of international bailouts. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)
Opposition leader Alexis Tsipras, head of the left-wing Syriza party leaves after his statements at Zappeio Conference Hall in Athens, Greece, Thursday, June 29, 2023. Tsipras has announced his decision to step down after a crushing election defeat. The 48 year-old politician served as Greece's prime minister from 2015 to 2019 during politically tumultuous years as the country struggled to remain in the euro zone and end a series of international bailouts. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
FILE - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras arrives in Snagov, Romania, Friday, March 29, 2019. Greece's left-wing opposition leader, Alexis Tsipras has announced his decision to step down after a crushing election defeat. Tsipras made the announcement on Thursday, June 29, 2023. The 48 year-old politician served as Greece's prime minister from 2015 to 2019 during politically tumultuous years as the country struggled to remain in the euro zone and end a series of international bailouts. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
FILE - IGreek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, gestures during his meeting with Syriza party leader Alexis Tsipras, in Athens, Greece, Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. Greece's left-wing opposition leader, Alexis Tsipras has announced his decision to step down after a crushing election defeat. Tsipras made the announcement on Thursday, June 29, 2023. The 48 year-old politician served as Greece's prime minister from 2015 to 2019 during politically tumultuous years as the country struggled to remain in the euro zone and end a series of international bailouts. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks with the media as he arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, June 29, 2023. European leaders meet for a two-day summit to discuss Ukraine, migration and the economy. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Opposition leader Alexis Tsipras, head of the left-wing Syriza party speaks at Zappeio Conference Hall in Athens, Greece, Thursday, June 29, 2023. Tsipras has announced his decision to step down after a crushing election defeat. The 48 year-old politician served as Greece's prime minister from 2015 to 2019 during politically tumultuous years as the country struggled to remain in the euro zone and end a series of international bailouts. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
FILE - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, left, welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron at Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, Sept. 7, 2017. Greece's left-wing opposition leader, Alexis Tsipras has announced his decision to step down after a crushing election defeat. Tsipras made the announcement on Thursday, June 29, 2023. The 48 year-old politician served as Greece's prime minister from 2015 to 2019 during politically tumultuous years as the country struggled to remain in the euro zone and end a series of international bailouts. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File)