Amid the contradictions of expansion in a climate of cutbacks, PASOK is moving toward its congress, while the process of replacing Odysseas Konstantinopoulos in the vice-presidency of parliament with another party deputy has not yet been finalized.

In Sunday’s voting, however, Odysseas Konstantinopoulos received the highest number of votes at the PASOK ballot in Tripoli through his associates, leaving his parliamentary successor, Vangelis Giannakouras, in 17th place. The “climate” in Tripoli—and Arcadia more broadly—following Nikos Androulakis’s decision to remove the long-serving MP, was reflected in the assembly election results, with Konstantinopoulos securing strong support across all municipalities. Specifically, the top candidate in Tripoli, with 188 votes, was elected through Konstantinopoulos’s close associate and regional councillor Giannis Nikolaou, while the second-highest vote recipient was also aligned with him. Vangelis Giannakouras received 43 votes, ranking 17th. Of the first 12 congress members in Tripoli, 8 support Konstantinopoulos, 3 align with Nikos Androulakis, and 1 is influenced by Michalis Katrinis. The results indicate that, had Giannakouras not participated as a left-wing candidate due to his pending parliamentary status, he would have faced significant difficulty securing election to the Synod.

The day after the congressman elections, marked by massive participation in PASOK’s “green” ballot boxes across Greece, the party finds itself in the same position: the “unheard needle” continues to worry members and officials. Within PASOK, debates over winning even by a single vote clash with more pragmatic assessments based on recent polls. The presidential side recorded roughly 60% in the congressman elections, approaching its goal of securing support for Androulakis’s re-election in the second round of the internal party elections in October 2024. Other senior officials, campaigning for a dynamic party reboot, continue to voice objections and strong disagreements, as the slogan “to defeat Mitsotakis’ New Democracy” remains difficult to realize in the polls.

Haris Doukas and Pavlos Geroulanos insist that PASOK must send a clear signal, while the Mayor of Athens, at a time when Alexis Tsipras is preparing to lead a new centre-left party, emphasizes the need for the congress to adopt an unequivocal “no” to post-election cooperation with New Democracy. Pavlos Geroulanos agrees with this position, and, like Michalis Katrinis and Manolis Christodoulakis, he does not rule out supporting the Mayor of Athens’s resolution at the congress. Though they did not vote together, hours earlier they had formed a common front against Androulakis’s decision to remove Odysseas Konstantinopoulos.

Internal consultations on potential alliances are expected in the coming hours. Sources say Doukas and Geroulanos are currently closer to forming alliances ahead of the congress than Christodoulakis. Rivalries over who will be first in the congress slow alliance formation, though staffers maintain open channels.

Doukas, the Dilemma, and 900 Allied Delegates

For Haris Doukas, the dilemma at the congress is clear: PASOK’s strategy for national elections must be clearly defined. Will the party lead as the main force for progressive political change, or leave open the possibility of cooperating with New Democracy? “The answer will be given at the congress,” Doukas states, noting that the high turnout in the congress elections is a key step toward electoral success. Doukas and his colleagues express satisfaction with the results, saying they demonstrate the influence of his ideas on the PASOK base.

Doukas’s team claims to have elected 750 congress members, whose names, addresses, and phone numbers are documented. Including mayors, former MPs, secretaries, and deputy secretaries aligned with Doukas, they estimate around 900 delegates support their position.

Officials close to Pavlos Geroulanos acknowledge that the presidential side emerged as the leading force in the congress elections, though not as strongly as anticipated. They describe an “organizational surprise” from Geroulanos, positioning him as a clear second force—a claim supported by Doukas’s and Christodoulakis’s teams.

Geroulanos’s team sought to operate discreetly until the results were in. While Doukas’s team performed well in Athens, Geroulanos had a strong showing in Thessaloniki, electing Argyris Argyriadis as the top candidate, who will run for parliament in the next election. Geroulanos’s influence extends across the region, from Alexandroupoli to Heraklion. “There was no upset against Christodoulakis, despite earlier claims,” say Geroulanos officials. In other areas, Doukas came second in Christodoulakis’s East Attica district and in the South Sector, where Androulakis and Christodoulakis allied to secure first place.

Odysseas Votes Tomorrow for His Parliamentary Successor

Odysseas Konstantinopoulos’s remark, “If PASOK had 20%, we wouldn’t be discussing Pelegrini today,” circulated widely among members during Sunday’s voting. Discussions often revolved around the “unheard needle” and the need for PASOK mobilization to maximize turnout. Although Konstantinopoulos did not vote, PASOK officials have not formally removed him from party membership, allowing him to vote if he chose. Vangelis Giannakouras, first runner-up to succeed him, participated in past PASOK leadership votes.

Konstantinopoulos’s formal handover of the Arcadia seat will occur after the new vice-president from PASOK votes tomorrow. Reports suggest it could be Milena Apostolaki, who, along with Evangelia Liakoulis, worked in the Committees of Inquiry, or experienced parliamentarian Paris Koukoulopoulos from Kozani. Tomorrow, Konstantinopoulos will address the plenary session, reflecting on his parliamentary journey.

Premiere

The first meeting of the Enlargement Group will convene today at noon at Charilaou Trikoupis, in the presence of PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis. Group members have received tickets to attend the congress, while the relevant committee under Kostas Skandalidis will continue its work, announcing new names in addition to current MPs—a responsibility of the President.