Candidates for leadership of the PASOK. The die has been cast in today’s Central Committee marathon Nikos Androulakis presented its proposal for intra-party elections on October 6 with a second round – if necessary – on October 13. At the same time, the first three appointments were formalized, those of Nikos Androulakis, Haris Doukas and Pavlos Geroulanoswhile the question remains open as to whether other “gladiators” will be added to the 100-day race that begins for the presidency.
The Central Committee meeting was not without fire from both sides over the election result, criticism of Nikos Androulakis personally and the response of his supporters, while many officials in their speeches spoke about the prospect of cooperation in the broader area of the Centre-Left. The dialogue, however, took place without any particular tensions, except for individual clashes of a procedural nature.
![PASOK is heading to the elections: the candidates, the “nails” and everything that happened in the KE marathon 1 pasok 4 e1719773399509](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/pasok-4-e1719773399509.jpg)
Nikos Androulakis: I will not become a hostage president
Under the heavy atmosphere that formed after the European elections and with a loud speech, the president of PASOK – Movement for Change, Nikos Androulakis, presented the roadmap for the party’s internal procedures, announcing that “PASOK cannot be drawn into a dissolving division”. “I have a duty to the base of the party, to guarantee unity”, he said during his inauguration, clarifying that he himself will not become “a president held hostage by anyone”.
PASOK: Internal party elections on October 6th proposed by N. Androulakis
“I propose that elections for the leadership of PASOK be held on October 6th and a second round, if necessary, on October 13th. The candidacies and political positions of all of us – to stop the catwalk – to be presented to open the Central Committee three weeks before the first round of electionsannounced, adding that the procedural details will be defined by the competent bodies in accordance with the rules of the 2021 elections and based on the party’s statutes. He even called for an “open dialogue on television” with debate between the candidates.
Self-criticism and “fires” against internal party opponents
Nikos Androulakis used harsh language against his opponents and internal party opponents, noting that “from the Sunday of the European elections, even before there was a confident assessment of the result, an unprecedented public harakiri of the faction began.”
In an attempt to self-criticize the election result, the PASOK president acknowledged that he had made mistakes for which he takes responsibility. “I recognize that on some critical issues we sent a confusing political message and appeared bilingual. And this is something we will have to fix in the next period if we want to move forward. It is a responsibility of all of us and particularly of the Parliamentary Group, because we often draw public attention to differences and not to multiply the power of our programmatic discourse,” he noted. However, then pointing the arrows at those who were quick to question him, he said: “If there is something that saddens me, not only politically but also humanly, it is the obsession I have seen in recent days with transforming the necessary process of internal party dialogue into a catwalk for personal ambitions.”
Haris Doukas: I ask for your support to make PASOK a governing force again
With the phrase “I do not hide, I am not afraid, that is why I am here and I ask for your support to make PASOK a governing force again, to defeat ND.” as in Athens”, Haris Doukas formalized his descent from the race.
Haris Doukas: Announced his candidacy for PASOK leadership – “I ask for your support”
During his speech, Doukas made it clear that he will remain mayor of Athens whether he loses or wins the leadership battle, agreeing with the roadmap proposed by Nikos Androulakis for the leadership elections in October.
However, Haris Doukas emphasized that “now is the time to open the circle of overcoming. Let’s make PASOK great with a realignment of forces, with intersections and ruptures with the past. Return to being a party of members and not a party of mechanisms, giving everyone a role.”
He added that it is necessary to be “coordinated and united to defeat” the ND “We are not looking for a messiah, but for a leadership that comes together. You cannot do this alone, but a change of direction is necessary”, highlighted Haris Doukas.
He stated that he is now raising the issue of leadership “because now the circumstances demand it and they need clear answers and responsibilities and I am ready to assume them”.
Pavlos Geroulanos: Let’s reclaim the government of the homeland together
Pavlos Geroulanos also announced his candidacy for the leadership of PASOK, asking the leader “to take responsibility for presenting a plan that will become a social majority, because it will respond convincingly to the needs of the Greek household. To take responsibility for taking off, functionally, the party so that we can take our plan to all Greek families and convince them.”
“And I ask you to lead the responsibility of the unit. A unity that will make PASOK self-assured, ready, once again, to sincerely open its arms to all progressive forces, from the Left and the Center to the fringes of the Right, to demand together and gain the trust of the citizens and the governance of our country”, he noted.
M. Katrinis: It’s time to become the essential force for political change once again
Michalis Katrinis, who would be accepting proposals to run for president, highlighted in his speech how “there is clearly a need for a new democratic majority, an alternative proposal to govern the country. PASOK has the responsibility for the initiative, it must be the protagonist of this effort. The country and the faction together need a strong and creative shock.” He added that “PASOK must find its true soul again. To draw a new dividing line with the maintenance and interests The time has come to once again become the essential force of political change, in the Greece of establishment and maintenance. Because only then can we inspire, unite, claim, win. Return to being the PASOK of great ruptures and great social and political achievements”.
Nadia Giannakopoulou: I will be present on the front line
With a statement that many believe leaves open the possibility of running for president, Nadia Giannakopoulou, who raised the question of leadership immediately after the results of the European elections, said she would be “present on the front line, as I have always been, and especially in the most difficult times for PASOK and I will fight for our legacy, principles and values, to move the country forward, to make the big cuts and changes that the country needs, to support and give hope and perspective in Greek society.”
Regarding the election result, he stressed that in a period that highlighted the possibility of a major change in membership and strengthening of PASOK, we did not achieve this either. He estimated that at the critical moment “the blame lay with the complete lack of definition of our physiognomy and political stigma.”