While Nikos Androulakis extends an invitation to progressive opposition parties for cooperation and advocates for expansion – having created a relevant committee – without face control, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas appears to have a different view on the matter. He emphasizes that for any MP to join PASOK, they must first surrender their seat to the party with which they were elected in previous elections.
“Our party is open to those who share common concerns, believe our program is a solution for the country, and think New Democracy must become a thing of the past. Our party is open to society, to officials from other parties, to people who believe our effort is worthwhile,” Nikos Androulakis emphasized while speaking on Open TV Monday morning. Meanwhile, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, a few hours later on Action 24, said that “whoever wants to come is welcome, but if they’re in another party, they should resign from their seat.” He also made pointed remarks about Nikos Androulakis’s stance on expansion, without naming him directly. “Some people said when I was a presidential candidate that if you vote for Doukas, he’ll open the door to SYRIZA MPs, and I told them those who say this should be careful they don’t bring them themselves. I said it then and I say it now, because in politics it matters not to change positions,” Haris Doukas characteristically stated.
Androulakis vs Doukas power struggle: What’s really happening with the expansion
This particular power struggle conceals significant behind-the-scenes activity, with rumors of contacts with MPs like Nina Kasimati, who despite being elected with SYRIZA appears to be on track to exit Koumoundourou. It should be noted that recently there has been information suggesting Ms. Kasimati’s departure from SYRIZA and her return to the main opposition party, as she was previously an official there. However, such a move is neither confirmed nor denied.
Nevertheless, this issue remains open, as evidenced by a recent statement from PASOK expansion committee head Kostas Skandalidis. “I can neither confirm nor deny the reports, nor can I take a position. I repeat that we have a specific strategy that excludes those who have fatally wounded PASOK. I don’t think Ms. Kasimati has fatally wounded PASOK. (…) These are tendencies that come from the past, related to officials’ personal ambitions. All of this is part of the game, it’s part of politics,” he declared speaking on ERT radio.
It should be noted that both the Movement’s press spokesperson and Ilia MP Michalis Katrinis have opposed the face control line, while the Movement’s political planning head Anna Diamantopoulou supports bilateral expansion.
