Haris Doukas has accused close associates of Nikos Androulakis of engaging in “extreme character assassination” and called on the current PASOK leader to take a clear stance.

“Otherwise, he will be co-responsible,” Doukas said, referring to his fellow candidate Androulakis, pointing out the attacks he’s faced on social media from Androulakis’s team, especially following the recent televised debate. The Athens Mayor and PASOK presidential candidate stressed that he will not adopt the right-wing and far-right rhetoric, and will continue his fight for the party’s future.

In his statement, Doukas elaborated:

“The glass has overflowed.

For quite some time now, close associates of Nikos Androulakis have been attacking me with right-wing and far-right rhetoric.

I understand that I may have caused discomfort, especially after the debate, because I responded to all the attacks against me and presented concrete policy proposals.

Since then, their attacks have escalated into an extreme campaign of character assassination. They even went as far as reproducing the very slander being fed by Maximos Mansion against me.

The poison must stop, here and now, because it undermines the necessary unity of PASOK.

Nikos Androulakis must take a stand, or else he will share responsibility.

As for me, I will continue my fight alongside progressive and democratic citizens for PASOK’s victory and the democratic movement’s future, without resorting to similar tactics, as I have done until now.”