How did Alexis Tsipras become involved in left-wing politics as a student?

Alexis Tsipras’s involvement in left-wing politics began during his teenage years when he joined the Communist Youth of Greece. His activism intensified during the 1990–91 academic year, when he led a months-long protest occupation of his high school to oppose government efforts to privatize education.1

After matriculating as a civil engineering student at the National Technical University of Athens, his political engagement deepened further. He joined Synaspismos, a bloc of leftist and green parties formed following a split in the Communist Party of Greece. During his time with the organization, he served as the political secretary of its youth wing and held a position on its Central Committee.1