MEP Androulakis becomes new leader of Greek socialists

MEP Nikos Androulakis has triumphed in the primaries of the Greek socialist party (Pasok) in the second round of the vote on Sunday, beating former Prime Minister George Papandreou. However, the ideological orientation of the party remains unclear.

With 68% of the votes, Androulakis won the second round of the elections over Papandreou (32%).

Pasok, the official member of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in Greece, saw its popularity collapse after its government, led by Papandreou, signed up to the country’s first bailout in 2009.

“Pasok is back, united, and strong”, the Greek MEP said in his first statement after his victory.

Critics suggest that the ideological orientation of the next Pasok leader will also determine future government alliances and turn the party into a potential kingmaker in elections.

Papandreou is considered sympathetic to supporting left and progressive political forces, while Androulakis has not taken a clear position, calling for “political autonomy”.

But right after the election, conservative PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis (New Democracy – EPP) congratulated Androulakis and asked for a meeting soon.

Meanwhile, the main opposition leftist Syriza party, has repeatedly called on progressive political parties, including Pasok, to join forces against conservative politics.

At the EU level, Udo Bullmann, the chief negotiator for the SPD in the coalition talks on EU affairs, told EURACTIV: “We have to build progressive majorities wherever it is possible. The grand coalition has traditionally been an alliance of last resort.”

“We must find new alliance partners; may they be in the liberal spectrum or on the left for reform, progress and a social-ecological turn-around. We have seen that a grand coalition may lead to deadlock and missed opportunity, also in the European sphere,” he added.

(Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com, EURACTIV.gr)