The atmosphere is tense within PASOK following a stormy meeting of the Political Council and the parliamentary group. All eyes are now on the impending leadership battle.
PASOK is currently focused on organizing the election of a new leader. Leadership and key executives are preparing for the second round of discussions during the two-day meeting of the Central Committee, where decisions on the “Road Map” will be made by the end of the month.
Current Situation and Leadership Dynamics
Following a tumultuous meeting, where Nikos Androulakis faced criticism from executives regarding the party’s operations and election results, attention is now on Harilaou Trikoupis’s movements and potential leadership candidates. Although Androulakis has not disclosed his plans, he pledged to present a unifying proposal to the Central Committee. Initially, elections were referenced to occur no earlier than autumn 2025, but there are now suggestions that elections could take place as early as July.
Potential Leadership Candidates and Polls
Several officials, including former minister and Political Council member Petros Efthimiou, have suggested a timeline that involves presenting candidates’ platforms at PASOK’s founding anniversary on September 3, with elections potentially occurring at the end of autumn’s first month. Odysseas Konstantinopoulos has proposed holding leadership elections by the end of this year.
Opinion polls are beginning to reflect the leadership mobility within PASOK. A GPO survey for Star indicates that 66.4% of respondents support the direct election of the leadership, while 24.1% disagree.
When asked about the most suitable leader for PASOK, 34.5% chose Nikos Androulakis, 17.7% Pavlos Geroulanos, 17.2% Haris Doukas, 13.6% Manolis Christodoulakis, and 2.5% Pavlos Christidis. Additionally, 7.4% stated none of them, and 3.4% did not respond.
Intra-Party and SYRIZA Dynamics
Debates are ongoing about PASOK’s potential cooperation with SYRIZA, amid the internal leadership contest. Many within PASOK oppose a partnership with SYRIZA. Haris Doukas suggests a KINAL model, similar to the late Fofi Gennimata’s approach, which aimed to unite progressive forces under KINAL, with PASOK at its core. Petros Efthimiou emphasized that any resulting party should be a member of the European Socialist Party.
Next Steps
The general discussion about center-left convergence is seen by some as premature and a distraction from the central goal. Many expect Androulakis to take the initiative and appeal to the party’s grassroots, members, and friends. By June 29-30, when the Central Committee meets, more clarity is expected regarding the leadership election timeline. Although July has been ruled out, the exact timing and new alliances within the Central Committee will be crucial in determining the future leadership direction.
As the Central Committee convenes, the stage is set for political discussions. The control of the numbers has been in the hands of Nikos Androulakis since the last Congress, but the imprint of the new alliances remains largely unknown. The timing of elections, as per the president’s proposal, and the correlations that will emerge within the Central Committee, will reveal new trends and the election timeline. Haris Doukas, one step away from announcing his candidacy for the leadership of PASOK, emphasized his primary goal yesterday at an event presenting George Siakantaris’ book by Renewal Left, stating his commitment to PASOK and the broader democratic coalition’s triumph. “I will do whatever I can for this,” said the Mayor of Athens and PASOK member, Haris Doukas, who is known for saying, “Convergence for the Center-Left happens in the neighborhoods.” He connected the battle in the municipality with politics and described the goal of rallying forces around PASOK: “As known, the municipal alliance that won the elections in Athens is based on PASOK and also gathers the largest possible coexistence of forces…This effort is not without cost for me…I have become and remain the target of attacks. However, I am not discouraged. I will not back down. I will not retreat.”
Meanwhile, the possible candidacy of Pavlos Geroulanos is under consideration, as well as that of Manolis Christodoulakis, with potential surprises on the horizon, not necessarily from the names already mentioned. Mr. Geroulanos and Mr. Christodoulakis have been in favor of direct base elections from the start, emphasizing the need for a dynamic restart of the party following PASOK’s defeat in achieving its stated goal in the European elections.
