Conservative ND MP Adonis Georgiadis gathered the 50 signatures he needed in order to officially submit his candidacy for the leadership of the main opposition New Democracy party. He announced his intent to join in the running on Twitter with the message, “I found them, I’m off”. Despite the rush against time, his bid was nullified by the conservative party’s central committee on account of being submitted a few minutes after the 3 p.m. deadline. The decision prompted a backlash by conservative lawmakers leading to a decision for the election committee to reconvene at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday to decide on whether to accept or reject the fourth candidacy of the MP.

No sooner was the decision to reject Georgiadis’ bid made that a number of disapproving comments were made from all three contenders for the leadership as well as former ND leader and prime minister Antonis Samaras. Both Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Apostolos Tzitzikostas – also vying for the party’s leadership – said the decision to reject the fourth candidacy due to it having missed the deadine was an unnecessary formality that they consider unfair. Samaras said that the decision to reject the submission would be “traumatic for the New Democracy party.”

Earlier on Friday, Georgiadis had rushed to the party headquarters on Syngrou Avenue to submit his candidacy after gathering the 50 signatures required for the bid. Speaking to reporters outside his party’s offices he said that it had been one of the most important weeks of his life while noting the difficulty he had in gathering the signatures.

Despite being a few minutes late when tending his submission, the ND officials had initially accepted it after the MP managed to get the 50th signature just in time.

At 3 p.m. I needed another five signatures, and I managed to get these in the last 20 minutes. “We are entering the battle forcefully,” he said. “We want a strong ND with vision. We can only achieve this with the people’s help. Whoever is elected will be worthy, even if I’m not the one, though I certainly believe I will be!”

Upon hearing news that his submission had been rejected after all, Georgiadis tweeted: “I have not officially been briefed regarding this decision. I’m near our Syngrou offices now.”

“I heard from the news that they cut my candidacy for just a few minutes. If that’s true, then I’m truly sorry.”

“I am heading to Syngrou and I’ll ask for my co-candidates to make a public statement, because I’m sure they disagree (with the cut)!”