Athens, August 22 (RHC)-- More than 20 hardliners have pulled out of Greece’s ruling leftist Syriza party in an attempt to form what will be the third largest group in the parliament ahead of the country’s snap elections.

In a letter to the parliament on Friday, 25 Syriza members announced their decision to leave the party, citing dissatisfaction with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ decision to renew the controversial bailout program.

The new party, which is called Popular Unity, will be led by Panagiotis Lafazanis, a former minister in Tsipras’ cabinet. The group will be the third largest in the Greek parliament, after Syriza with 124 seats and the conservative New Democracy party with 76 in the 300-seat legislature.