Nikos Androulakis, the president of PASOK, urged members of the Political Center to maintain the atmosphere of unity and seriousness that the party projected during the pre-election period. The inaugural meeting of the new body saw Androulakis call on participants, including Haris Doukas and Anna Diamantopoulou (with Pavlos Geroulanos absent due to vocal cord surgery), to energetically engage in the upcoming political battles aimed at strengthening PASOK’s position in the political landscape.
“We must maintain a climate of unity, seriousness, and significant mobility,” Androulakis stated. “In the coming period, we need to be present everywhere, in every corner of Greece, actively engaged in every battle, both inside and outside the Parliament, against New Democracy.”
He emphasized the importance of visibility, saying, “We did a pre-election campaign that is a legacy not only for PASOK but for the political system. It has been recognized by all that our internal processes were conducted with seriousness and political culture.”
“Citizens See PASOK as the Opposing Force to New Democracy”
The PASOK leader announced plans for outward-facing campaigns to communicate health positions, rising prices, housing crises, labor rights, and agricultural issues, stating, “Just as we traveled all over Greece before, we will continue to do so now.”
Regarding recent polls showing an uptick for PASOK, Androulakis noted, “We have moved past the difficult times and out of the pressures of former bipartisanship. Polls see PASOK as the opposition party to New Democracy, and this is reflected in the latest polls we’ve seen.” He clarified that strategic decisions would be made in the Political Council and the Central Committee, while the Political Center would facilitate quicker coordination.
During the session, Haris Doukas reiterated his positions on maintaining unity, with no tensions or conflicts arising in the initial round of discussions, which included all participants.
Diamantopoulou’s Remarks Towards Doukas
Anna Diamantopoulou entered the meeting room making veiled remarks toward Haris Doukas, stating, “Harmony builds homes, while discord tears them down.” Doukas had previously disagreed with the formation of a “one-person body with a political direction,” implicitly referencing Diamantopoulou, who took on political planning. Doukas later expressed, through associates, his opposition to the decision not to include other candidates, Michalis Katrinis and Nadia Giannakopoulou, in the Political Center.
In an interview with Real FM, Michalis Katrinis, the party’s Defense Sector Coordinator, commented on his exclusion from the Political Center: “There was an expectation that a synthetic proposal would emerge, and I believe that this proposal could include all candidates from the recent internal elections.”
Nadia Giannakopoulou also weighed in during an interview with ANT1, stating, “I believe that Mr. Androulakis now has every opportunity to do what he believes, while of course taking into account the messages from the elections, which call for inclusivity.”
