PASOK is heading into what Anna Diamantopoulou describes as an existential battle. “If we perform badly in the elections, there is no next day,” she said, making clear the stakes for the party. She also stressed that cooperation with New Democracy would be “political suicide,” argued that ND has a voter base akin to that of Velopoulos, and set a clear strategic goal: for PASOK to become the second pole of the political system opposite the government. She added that the transfer of MPs is the responsibility of party leader Nikos Androulakis.

Speaking on Direct on protothema.gr with Giorgos Evgenidis, Anna Diamantopoulou set the tone for the upcoming electoral contest. “PASOK will fight an existential battle. If the result is poor, there is no next day,” she said, while outlining the party’s strategy for expansion, the possible return of former members, and the role of Nikos Androulakis.

On the prospect of former party officials returning, the former minister noted: “If all of us say, ‘Stop, you can’t come back because you did this or that,’ PASOK will never broaden its base.” She clarified that this does not concern only figures from SYRIZA, but also members who “publicly said they voted for Mitsotakis, became disappointed, and now believe PASOK is the alternative pole.”

“The doors are open, and the limits are ethical,” she said. “As a candidate for PASOK’s leadership, I had said that anyone who leaves for another party should hand over their parliamentary seat. But that decision lies with Mr. Androulakis. Any return will be decided by the PASOK president.”

Addressing internal party dynamics, she sent a pointed message to those presenting themselves as successors: “Anyone who gives themselves the title of ‘crown prince’ has no hope the next day.” She added that “a leader cannot stand alone — they need a strike team,” and spoke of an “unprecedented campaign of devaluation” against Androulakis.

Diamantopoulou firmly rejected any scenario of cooperation with New Democracy. “It would be suicidal for PASOK to say it will work with its main opponent,” she stated. “I do not see open ground for cooperation between ND and PASOK.” While she acknowledged that consensus can be necessary, she argued that “it must start with the government, not the opposition.” She also suggested that ND could potentially collaborate with the party of Kyriakos Velopoulos, claiming their voter bases have “affinities.”

Criticizing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, she said, “Mitsotakis presented himself as a reformer, and today we are facing serious institutional problems.” Regarding the OPEKEPE case, she made clear that “PASOK will demand accountability from political figures.”

As for the broader electoral stakes, Diamantopoulou said PASOK has “one year until the elections to move the needle,” reiterating that the strategic objective is “to become the second pole of the political system, opposite New Democracy.” Commenting on Alexis Tsipras, she added: “He is not new to politics; he has a long track record — and a person’s character does not change.”