ATHENS – Routed in July 7, 2019 snap elections and falling further behind the New Democracy Conservatives, major opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras said he's plotting a comeback.

"In order to win the elections, SYRIZA must gain the political centre, turning left to gain the centre with a radical, realistic and executable programme," Tsipras said on Sunday, closing the proceedings of the party conference.

Addressing the those present, he stressed: "We do not want to defeat the right in order to return to power but so as to have humanly acceptable labour relations. With decent salaries and rights. In order for the minimum wage to go to 800 euros and to pull up all salary levels. To build a new national health system together, with emphasis on primary care, with better salaries and incentives for young doctors. The small and medium-sized businessman, the self-employed person, the farmer knows that we want to defeat the right in order to support the possibility for them to exist. To help their businesses stay alive and be supported. All Greek citizens know that we want to defeat the right so that justice can return to the country."

He ripped what he called the “brutally conservative policies” of the New Democracy government and said he expects there will be early elections before a scheduled 2024 poll, and that he will again.

“It’s our duty. This government must go away as soon as possible,” Tsipras said, adding that SYRIZA had “learned from its mistakes,” without mentioning he reneged on a 40-point program that got him elected as he also did with anti-austerity promises before hammering workers and pensioners.

He said his party had to sweep New Democracy out of power at the next election. “And that time is not far off,” he said, according to Kathimerini, although he didn't say how he would win the favor of disenchanted voters.

His faltering approach has been to blame Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and an economic rebound that's beginning to take shape.