The main opposition New Democracy party’s interim president Vangelis Meimarakis on Thursday officially announced his bid for the party’s leadership in the upcoming internal elections. This came as no surprise as most of the party’s members had been expecting a bid by the conservative politician, who joins Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Central Macedonian Region Chief Apostolos Tzitzikostas in the race for the conservative leadership.

Friday marks the last day for the submission of candidacy bids before the party voting session that Meimarakis recommends take place on October 18.

Following the protocol, Meimarakis submitted his candidacy along with 50 signatures of party members. He said: “I believe in building, not tearing down. I look on ND with great respect for its history and contribution and with my gaze turned onto the governance program for the future.” He expressed his perennial loyalty to the party regardless of who was at the helm.

Adonis Georgiadis, a controverial member from the ND’s right-wing faction, had scrambled to find 50 signatures required for the candidacy, however it is uncertain as to whether he will gather these in time before the noon deadline on Friday.