Newly re-elected PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis is expected to begin meeting with his close associates to chart the post-election course for the center-left party.
Though Androulakis has not officially commented on his personnel decisions, there are many rumors of a shake up in central positions in the parliamentary group. According to To Vima it is expected Androulakis will put his former running opponents Pavlos Geroulanos and Anna Diamantopoulou in key positions. Athens mayor, Haris Doukas, will remain in his position as mayor.
There is also speculation about who Androulakis will include in the “morning coffee” meetings –small informal working groups within the party which discuss both short-term and long-term party policy. To Vima reports that Dimitris Manzos, Panagiotis Doudonis, Thanasis Glavinas and Stefania Mourelatou are all likely to remain constants in the party’s operations.
Androulakis is expected to unveil his full policy program at PASOK’s next party conference in the spring.
In his post-election message, Androulakis emphasized that he would avoid populist tactics, perhaps a ding on left-wing party SYRIZA’s approach. It is quite clear that under his leadership, there will be no attempt to form a new center-left coalition with SYRIZA.
The underpinning message of both Androulakis and the defeated PASOK candidates is one of unity– pushing the image of a stable, functioning PASOK. The party must hold onto this unity if it wishes to angle itself ahead of a crumbling SYRIZA, and to close the gap between itself and New Democracy.
Androulakis received almost 60% of the vote against Athens Mayor Haris Doukas in Sunday night’s elections, with reports indicating that 201,654 party members and friends participated, compared to the more than 300,000 who cast their ballots two Sundays ago.
