The six PASOK leaders’ candidates appear ready for the first “half-time” of the race, attempting in the 24 hours remaining until next Sunday to “open up” to wider audiences and attract as many undecided voters as possible around their candidacy.
Experienced officials predict a tough political and organizational, race around the potential derby between Androulakis and Doukas currently described by polls such as the one from Opinion Poll presented yesterday on Action 24’s main newscast. Anna Diamantopoulou and Paul Geroulanos are still battling to secure access to the second round, while Nadia Giannakopoulou and Michalis Katrinis are turning to their constituencies and other areas where they maintain notable networks of contacts.
Charis Doukas is “keeping” the mood from the two impressive events, in Patras and Thessaloniki, and is moving on to the “bet” in Athens, estimating that tomorrow’s rally at Panellinios, where he will speak, will exceed the bar set by his staff in terms of crowd participation. At the same time, at 7:30 p.m., Paul Geroulanos will speak at the Old Parliament, while the Androulakis keynote speech is being organized for Friday at the same venue in Athens.
“The time is now,” Doukas says, calling for a clean mandate on October 6, with a pledge that if he is elected president in the second round, his first move will be to call a meeting of his fellow candidates to plan together their reactions to the Mitsotakis government. “The dilemma in the October 6 elections is clear: Do we want a small, closed and fearful PASOK as butter on Mr Mitsotakis’ bread, do we want a small PASOK crutch of Mr Mitsotakis, or do we want a big PASOK, a big democratic party that will win? This is what we have to answer on October 6, by uniting society again, loud and clear,” Doukas said during his speech yesterday at the main pre-election event in Thessaloniki.
The participants interrupted his speech with applause several times, especially at points where he spoke of being “targeted mainly by New Democracy” and of the need to create a strong PASOK that will re-enter the government. Before beginning his speech, he asked for a minute of silence for those killed in the fire in Corinthia and then began to mention one by one his main objectives. Addressing those present at the “Olympio” in Thessaloniki, he criticised Nikos Androulakis, saying that “it is not possible for Thessaloniki to have no MP; this must change”.
Nikos Androulakis spoke last night in his hometown of Heraklion, Crete, and specifically in Agios Titus Square. Androulakis cited the example of Crete, where the “colour green” reappeared on the map in the last national elections, to argue that similar reversals will occur if he is re-elected in other parts of the country. “The hard times are behind us and the best is ahead of us,” reiterated the PASOK leader who maintains strong forces in Crete, although Anna Diamantopoulou and Harris Doukas have entered the game there, according to local officials.
Anna Diamantopoulouwas in her own hometown of Kozani yesterday, where during her speech she was seen being applauded by the prefecture’s current MP, Paris Koukoulopoulos, former MPs from the same constituency and several executives. According to the former commissioner and minister, PASOK can become “great and ruling again.”
However, Pavlos Geroulanos, who in an interview with OPEN estimated that a change of leadership is needed and that this can only happen with him. “Androulakis knows that only I can bring a change of leadership in the second round and that if I pass his position will be difficult. He knows that I am the only one who can beat him, so he is attacking me,” he said.
See details of polling stations across Greece
The polling stations across Greece, where PASOK members and friends will be able to vote on Sunday, were announced today.
Forecasts point to a massive turnout of people at the approximately 950 polling stations (in the territory and in some foreign cities). At each polling station there will be a tablet, through which data will be cross-checked and at the end the votes will be counted.
The polls will open at 7 a.m. on Sunday and will close at 7 p.m. on the same day, unless the mass turnout makes it necessary to extend the election process – which was done in the previous election, in the autumn of 2021.
All Greek citizens and foreigners who reside permanently and legally in Greece and are 16 years of age or older have the right to vote. Those directly interested, if they are not members, can register in the lists as members or friends and vote by paying the amount of 3 euros. They must bring proof of identification (e.g. police ID or driving licence).
See here all the polling stations centers around the country and abroad
The Opinion Poll
In the Opinion Poll survey, however, and specifically in the voting intentions of those out of the entire sample who say they will participate in the election, the results showed: Nikos Androulakis 26.5%, Charis Doukas 25.8%, Anna Diamantopoulou 18.1%, Pavlos Geroulanos 15.8%, Michalis Katrinis 5.2%, Nadia Giannakopoulou 4.6%, Undecided, D/G/DA 4.0%
The voting intention among PASOK voters, among those who say they are going to vote are:
N. Androulakis 32.2%
Χ. Doukas 30.7%
P. Geroulanos 15.2%
A. Diamantopoulou 15.0%
N. Giannakopoulou 3.3%
M. Katrinis 2.7%.
