The “reborn” leader of PASOK begins today with consecutive meetings – The roles of Geroulanos and Diamantopoulou and the new power structure.
For Nikos Androulakis, the “reshuffling” in the parliamentary group is a matter of urgency, linking his reelection as the leader of PASOK with the necessity for extensive changes in the faces that will assume crucial roles at Charilaou Trikoupi.
The “reborn” leader of PASOK starts today with successive meetings with the people who managed his re-election campaign. It is possible that he will announce the new power structure within the parliamentary group today, provided he reaches his final selections. However, he may take more time to establish a unified political center to replace the “morning coffee” sessions and to form departments that have not yet operated within the party (such as local governance).
Paul Geroulanos and Anna Diamantopoulou will take on distinct roles, as both were candidates for leadership in the first round and have already openly discussed the initiatives the leadership should undertake in terms of personnel to secure victory in the national elections.
Parliamentary spokesperson duties are expected to be taken on by Pavlos Christidis, Panagiotis Doudonis, and Dimitris Mantzos, while the Secretary of the PASOK parliamentary group (replacing Evangelia Liakouli) is rumored to be the experienced MP from the northern sector of Athens, Milena Apostolaki. All the above MPs were in the “front line” during the internal pre-election period, along with other colleagues who, during the “reshuffle,” will take on new “portfolios” in parliamentary committees.
In any case, the candidate for leadership and MP for Athens A’, Pavlos Geroulanos, will maintain leadership of the Economy and Development Sector, beginning today with the budget battle. He will be among the top members of the “shadow government” that the PASOK president wants to establish.
“There is much work to be done politically, organizationally, and communicatively so that the party can fight for victory in the next elections,” emphasizes Mr. Geroulanos, who, speaking on the radio station “SKAI 100.3,” also highlighted his view that the composition of the bodies should not mechanically reflect the trends in the party but should resonate with society. Anna Diamantopoulou, who returns tomorrow from Berlin, has emphasized the need to utilize the “new human geography” that emerged from the internal party elections. It has been discussed in Charilaou Trikoupi for Geroulanos and Diamantopoulou to take on vice-presidential roles; however, these roles will likely pass through the upcoming Congress if a related proposal is made.
In Charilaou Trikoupi, Mr. Androulakis intends to appoint (mainly) figures from the new generation who stood by him during the pre-election battle. Stefania Mourelaatou will remain in an enhanced role as the Director of Communication, a position she took on immediately after Mr. Androulakis was elected as leader in 2021. Evangelos Tsogkas, who managed the strategic targeting and communication campaign during the election battle, will continue to work closely with Mr. Androulakis.
In the Political Center, the “morning coffee,” which will meet daily at Charilaou Trikoupi, will apparently include the three parliamentary representatives, Dimitris Mantzos and Panagiotis Doudonis, along with Pavlos Christidis, and the prospective MEPs Lefteris Karchimakis, Kostas Tsoukalas, and Olga Markogiannaki, the spokesperson Thanasis Glavinas, as well as other staff with political and organizational responsibilities. Mr. Androulakis’s goal, as he pledged while seeking reelection, is for frequent meetings of the Political Council and the Central Committee, two-party bodies whose members were elected based on the previous party conference.
Political planning for the party may be taken on by Lefteris Karchimakis, while the Coordinating Body for the Congress will be led by Kostas Tsoukalas. If a Central Committee for Congress Organization is not established immediately and thus the Political Council and the Central Committee continue to exist, then Andreas Spyropoulos will remain the party’s Secretary. Otherwise, Mr. Spyropoulos will assume a new responsibility at Charilaou Trikoupi starting now.
Charis Doukas, who competed with Mr. Androulakis in the second round for leadership, is prioritizing his work in the Municipality of Athens. As a candidate who achieved 40% against Mr. Androulakis, he is expected to express his political views on the developments in a manner that contributes to advancing PASOK’s collective goal for unifying forces, upward progress, and victory in the national elections.
