Main opposition party leader Antonis Samaras told New Democracy deputies on Thursday that he is not “glued” to his seat, but will leave the party’s held at such a “crucial point for the country”.

In essence, he ruled out stepping aside or commencing the process for a succession in the wake of ND’s dismal showing at the polls in late January, losing an election to radical leftist SYRIZA.

Moreover, he challenged ND cadre who doubts him to request that the procedure for a leadership vote commence.

Turning to the SYRIZA government, he said its “…leadership knows that their unity is fragile and the toughest fight is still to come”. He reiterated that “We are not in a hurry to break them apart, they are in a hurry to destroy themselves with what they do”.

He again issued a challenge to party dissenters to propose a leadership congress, and to initiate the actions required to convene such a congress. According to sources, 10 MPs were expected to do so, at least before Samaras’ address.