Athens uni dean: Could he lead the ND’s state ballot?

January 25 elections countdown: The candidates for the state ballot of the ND party are a mixed kettle of fish from the left and right

The conservative New Democracy party is presenting its candidates for the state ballotfollowing the 11 a.m. meeting by the ND’s executive committee on Friday. Deputy Minister of Culture Angela Gerekou announced on Thursday morning that she will be running with the ND party in the upcoming elections even though she had been an active member of the socialist PASOK party in the past four general elections since 2004. The ND press office also announced that independent MP Vasilis Economou, formerly of PASOK and later DIMAR, would be included in the party’s state ballot though it wasn’t clarified what position he would have.

The same ballot will include Nicky Tzavela from the radical right-wing Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS). Until late Thursday night, discussions were underway with Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, formerly who was a 2014 European Parliament candidate for the newly-formed Greek European Citizens of Greece.

Athens University Dean Theodoros Fortsakis is also rumored for a role as chief of the ND state ballot.

ND Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is on the isle of Rhodes on Friday as part of his pre-election campaign. He is due to present his economic program at a central Athenian hotel on Saturday and will travel to Western Greece and Ioannina over the coming days.