MEP Androulakis wins first round of Greek socialists’ primaries

MEP Nikos Androulakis (S&D) has won the first round of internal elections of the Greek socialist party (Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement – Pasok), with 37% of the vote. He will now compete for the party’s leadership in the second round with former Prime Minister George Papandreou, who got 27.8%. Pasok’s elections are crucial for Greek politics. The party is expected to be a kingmaker for the next government: either collaborating with the ruling New Democracy party (EPP) or with the main opposition leftist Syriza party.

Androulakis has kept his distance from both parties, vowing to maintain Pasok’s “political autonomy”. However, yesterday he thanked the 270,000 “progressive” people who took part in the election process.

On the other hand, Papandreou has said he will seek “progressive alliances”, winking at Syriza.

Andreas Loverdos, the other candidate who is leaning toward collaboration with right-wing New Democracy, came third and did not make it to the second round.

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

The second round of voting will take place on Sunday 12 December.

(EURACTIV.gr)