Conservative New Democracy leader Vangelis Meimarakis met with the secretary of the ND’s political committee, Andreas Papamimikos, on Monday night in order to kick off procedures for the election of a new party leader as soon as possible.

Sources said the procedure is taking place following pressure by the party’s right wing, which reportedly wants to change the party’s centrist alignment as presented during the recent elections.

A number of ND officials are in favor a slower course, allowing for an examination of the reasons for the conservative party’s defeat in the Sept. 20 election, whereas another camp wants a return to a harder line, as critics charge was followed by former leader Antonis Samaras.

Two ND deputies on the party’s rightist wing, lead by Makis Voridis and Adonis Georgiadis, are in favor of a hardening of ND’s stand. They point to the loss of 200,000 voters for the party on Sunday, stating that this is a result of the milder line that had been followed by the party after July 5 when the leadership was handed to Meimarakis.

Samaras’ return to the helm of the party remains open, however, other ND officials, such as Evangelos Antonaros maintain that the real reason for the party’s defeat should be sought prior to July as the SYRIZA party was already 10 unit points ahead when Meimarakis took over.

Supporters of the current party leader say that Meimarakis managed to solidify the faction.

Other names being heard for the position are those of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Petros Tatoulis, whereas there is a leak that points to Voridis himself as candidate.