All eyes will be on the PASOK congress during the three-day period of March 27-29, as the main opposition party faces crucial decisions about its future. As PASOK president Nikos Androulakis announced during the KOES meeting, this will be a congress aimed at expansion – open yet institutional, without any kind of face control.
Indeed, he was quick to remind that “PASOK through tremendous struggles went from very low percentages to percentages that give it strong prospects. Others were liquidated, who tried to lock PASOK in history’s closet. Not us. So now we can make even more aggressive expansion policies, which have also been implemented in the recent past.”
At the same time, he didn’t fail to leave barbs against those whose statements cause introversion. “How will the congress become a political event? A political event happens through dialogue, through extroversion and not through introversion. And this concerns all of us. Because we continuously hold extroverted events, but we continuously discuss peripheral issues. Stop the peripheral issues. They don’t concern society. They may concern some of you, they don’t concern society. Society is concerned with ports, energy, education, health,” he characteristically noted.
Referring to what he means by the invitation for dialogue with other parties, he emphasized the following: “We are an open party, we invite people from other parties to come and join PASOK. We have always done this from 1974 until today, it’s not the first time. But what does it mean to discuss with other parties? At our congress there will be dialogue tables where I will invite the remaining progressive parties to take positions. A dialogue table on the Constitution. I had said before Christmas that there must be a comprehensive approach, it’s an issue that concerns society. At the congress they will be able to come to the dialogue table for these important issues that we as the Political Secretariat will determine – I give today as an example the Constitution issue that we have discussed – to also express their own opinion. What they think should be modified, how it should be modified, so that there is a front of initiatives in the coming period.”
PASOK: Androulakis confrontation with Doukas and Geroulanos
What Nikos Androulakis said in his introductory remarks hit the wall with Haris Doukas, who after requesting a policy change pointed out that “our strategy has failed so far, the goal of first place is moving away.” “I’m worried about our party. I’m worried about PASOK’s course, but also about the possibility of achieving the goals we have set. And I want us to be honest with each other, comrades. Our strategy has failed so far. The goal of first place is moving away” Mr. Doukas stressed and requested, among other things, a resolution against cooperation with New Democracy.
Parliamentary spokesperson of the main opposition, Pavlos Geroulanos, reportedly had a quite intense dialogue with Nikos Androulakis. “The planning hasn’t worked out. The time for changes is now. I demand more frequent meetings of organs,” he characteristically noted, with the leader of the main opposition reacting and telling him: “How can you be parliamentary spokesperson and say that we don’t all decide together?”
The following dialogue followed:
Geroulanos: “I express my anguish. Central organs should meet more.”
Androulakis: “All decisions were made in the Parliamentary Group.”
Geroulanos: “I’m telling you what I believe.”
According to information, Nikos Androulakis didn’t leave the Athens mayor’s words unanswered, as he asked him why he shows persistence regarding primary elections. “Since they didn’t have good results last time,” he told him, with the Athens mayor responding: “If they didn’t have good results, why were they included in the statute?”
However, the stance held by Mr. Doukas was strongly commented on by Political Planning head Anna Diamantopoulou, who told him: “What are you doing? Unacceptable. This isn’t a public session, it’s a party organ meeting.” This reaction was due to the fact that his speech had leaked to the media while the session was in progress. “Is it secret? My positions aren’t hidden,” Haris Doukas reportedly replied.
Crowds at Geroulanos’ cake ceremony
Meanwhile, crowds gathered at Caravel, where Pavlos Geroulanos cut his New Year’s cake. Among those present were top-tier PASOK officials, while Mr. Geroulanos cut the cake together with party president Nikos Androulakis. The PASOK parliamentary spokesperson emphasized the need for PASOK on issues of Democracy, institutionality and transparency to show from now that “we mean what we say and what we say we turn into political action. That’s why I will insist until the end. We need a ‘democracy explosion’ in PASOK now! Pre-congress dialogue that will be heard in society. With difficult issues that will mobilize society. Mobilization of all elected officials, at every level, in every body, at the frontline of battle. And electoral processes that fundamentally shake the political scene, because they seek and elevate participation. To let participation elevate the Movement.”
According to Mr. Geroulanos, PASOK’s job is to unite the people and restore citizens’ faith in institutions, in Democracy, in the State. “Because our strength is not to pit one Greek against another. Our strength was, is and will be to unite them all. To unite the Greek people against the country’s problems!” And he set one condition: “To go to every house, every village, every neighborhood and tell them: What we say we mean and what we mean we first turn into politics and action ourselves! Throughout all of Greece.”
In conclusion, he showed his intentions committed to PASOK’s victory: “I feel I owe an answer to a question that concerns all of us, including me: ‘And what are you doing?’. I could settle for ‘I told you so’. And wait. But neither the Homeland nor PASOK can wait. The extremes are already growing. Already preparing. Already working to see PASOK removed from the middle. That’s why I don’t want to wait! I want us to move the needle in every way! I want PASOK victorious in the next elections! I want my country freed from a government it doesn’t deserve! That’s why we must start tours in Attica and throughout the country, to turn over every stone, knock on every door, speak to every official who can and wants to help us win. Not to gather congress delegates. But to strengthen PASOK! And this we all must do. Every day, from now until the elections!”
