Kyriakos Mitsotakis may have a busy schedule of international contacts in the coming days, but the New Democracy’s machines are running at a foul pace in view of the congress and the European elections.
In this light, it is considered highly likely that within the week we will have the announcement of several persons who will staff the New Democracy’s European candidate list, which has begun to take shape, as Mitsotakis is expected to approve some pending names.
However, a “right-wing” injection will be required de facto, following the loss of Anna Michelle Asimakopoulou due to the e-mails to expatriate Greeks case that caused a chain of turmoil and brought Mitsotakis’ intervention at the end of last week.
In any case, the ND’s European candidate list will be announced in full the week immediately after the party congress (5-7 April).
Among new faces, with announcements from Maximou and leaks, the green light has been given to:
Former minister Vassilis Kontozamanis, former PASOK minister Evi Christofilopoulou, president of the Panhellenic Medical Association Thanasis Exadaktylos, professor Sotiris Sermpos, former mayor of Samos Michalis Angelopoulos and the deputy mayor of Thessaloniki Voula Patoulidou.
Among the current MEPs, Vangelis Meimarakis, Stelios Kympouropoulos and Elisa Vozenberg are running for a new term, while Maria Spyraki and Manolis Kefalogiannis are the new candidates.
On the contrary, Theodoros Zagorakis is expected to stay out and is exploring his alternatives.
Olympic weightlifting champion and former PASOK MP Pyrros Dimas, the director of the Prime Minister’s press office Dimitris Tsiodras and a close associate of Mitsotakis, as well as SKAI journalist Giorgos Avtias, have started touring the country.
Former deputy minister George Amyras and journalist Vicky Flesa, who was the first runner-up, are expected to have a second chance on the European Parliamentary candidate list.
Still, the name of the former deputy minister and member of the Southwest, Kostas Koukodimou, is strongly mentioned, the presence of former PASOK member Spyros Karanikolas is “locked”, while the name of police trade unionist George Kalliakmanis is also being discussed.
From the field of journalism, the name of Andreas Zamboukas, who was an associate of former vice-president of the government Panagiotis Pikrammenos, is also heard.
Candidate is expected to be the co-host of the Mega show and former MP Noni Dounia, while the name of the former mayor of Corfu Meropi Hydraiou is also heard.
From the new generation of blue cadres will be recruited the Secretary of Volunteerism of the New Democracy Pisti Krystallidou, while from the Youth Organisation of New Democracy candidate will be the Secretary of International Relations of the blue youth Vassilis Sakellaris.
Also from the new generation is the lawyer Maria Oraeozili Koutsoupia, who has reportedly been given the green light.
From the “right” wing, for various reasons, the candidacies of Konstantinos Floros, Alkiviadis Stefanis and Faelos Kranidiotis, who has been heard of, are not going ahead, while as for Freddy Beleri, there has been a suggestion that he be included in the blue eurolist, but there is a strong counter-argument that a European issue will become a bilateral and partisan issue.
Preparations for the conference
In addition to the Eurolist, meetings are also feverish for the conference, which will be held in Zappeion and will have the character of a “festival”, with rich audiovisual and archival material and aiming to be a meeting point for all generations of the party.
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Given that the New Democracy Party does not elect officers at this congress, perhaps what will take place in the corridors of the Zappeion will be of greater interest than the trivial statements of executives, while thematic events will be organised in an adjacent hall. These days will also determine the ‘choreography’ of Mitsotakis’ statements at Zappeion.
The Samaras-Karamanlis interventions
In this context, however, the interventions of the former presidents of the New Democracy party will also be of interest, as the relevant invitations will be sent out.
According to protothema.gr’s information, former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is expected to make a statement, as he has done in previous party conferences.
Interestingly, according to the same information, former Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is also open to intervene, if requested by the Organizing Committee of the congress.
Karamanlis last spoke in December on national issues, and was not present at the ND pre-conference in Thessaloniki two weeks ago. In any case, and given the party’s birthday, it is considered rather difficult for former presidents to be absent from the party frame.
