By Antonis Anzoletou

The processes of party leadership change have always been interesting. On September 10, and if a second round is needed on the 16th of the month, SYRIZA will elect its new leader.

There have been three presidents so far. Nikos Konstantopoulos, Alekos Alavanos and Alexis Tsipras. The former prime minister led him to power twice in 2015 and is the undisputed leading figure for the Left. The truth is, however, that SYRIZA did not have many changes in the presidency like New Democracy. Only Alexis Tsipras remained on the 7th floor of Koumoundourou for 15 years. This is the reason, after all, that the period that Koumoundourou is going through is particularly charged, as his departure was unexpected.

The blue faction at the opposite end has changed nine leaders since its formation in October 1974. The rule was to be led to change leadership after every big defeat. And in fact, until 1997, the new presidents were appointed by a parliamentary group.

The first change of baton took place in 1980 when Konstantinos Karamanlis “moved” to the Presidential Palace. Georgios Rallis emerged as the new president from the parliamentary group against Evangelos Averof. However, the defeat in 1981 was heavy with Georgios Ralli leaving the presidency and remaining just a deputy in the party. The helm of the blue line-up was taken by Evangelos Averof, beating Kostis Stefanopoulos and Ioannis Boutos.

The defeat in the European elections of June 1984 was the occasion for Evangelos Averov to submit his resignation. The body of the parliamentary group elected Konstantinos Mitsotakis (71 votes) to the position of president, who won over Kostis Stefanopoulos (40 votes). After the 1985 defeat, Konstantinos Mitsotakis asked for confirmation of confidence from the parliamentary group and received it. Four years later he came out on top with a large percentage in two electoral battles in 1989 and one in 1990 assuming the duties of prime minister. He remained at the helm of ND until 1993, when he lost to his great rival, Andreas Papandreou.

He submitted his resignation and Miltiadis Evert was elected president of the party, again by the parliamentary group, against Ioannis Varvitsiotis.

In 1996, the statutes of New Democracy were radically changed and now the president of the party was decided to be elected by the enlarged electoral body. The first elections were held on March 21, 1997 and in the first round Kostas Karamanlis won with 40.37%. They were followed by Giorgos Souflias with 30.52%, Miltiadis Evert with 25.34% and Byron Polydoras with 3.4%. In the second round, Kostas Karamanlis emerged as president with 69.16% against 30.84% ​​of Giorgos Souflias.

Kostas Karamanlis, after remaining in the leadership of the ND for 12 years, resigned in 2009 after his defeat by George Papandreou. New internal party developments were launched and Antonis Samaras won Dora Bakoyannis in the internal party elections. After consultations, for the first time in the history of the party, the election would be made through an open process by the members. On November 29, 2009, he was elected leader, with a percentage of 50.06% against 39.72% for Dora Bakoyannis and 10.22% for Panagiotis Psomiadis.

On July 5, 2015, after the victory of “NO” in the referendum with a percentage of 61.3%, Antonis Samaras submitted his resignation handing over the baton to Evangelos Meimarakis, in order to initiate internal party procedures. In view of the early elections of September 2015, Mr. Meimarakis remained in the presidency and led the blue party to the polls.

He eventually lost to SYRIZA and new internal party elections were launched. In the first round, held on December 20, Kyriakos Mitsotakis received 115,162 votes, 28.5%, 11% behind Vangelis Meimarakis.

Adonis Georgiadis announced his support for the candidacy of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, while Apostolos Tzitzikostas remained neutral. The current prime minister prevailed over Evangelos Meimarakis in the second round, which took place on January 11, 2016, with a percentage of 52.43% and was elected president of the party.