The holding of internal party elections on October 6 and 13 was proposed by Nikos Androulakis to the Central Committee of PASOK, stressing that the discussion that started on the night of the European elections, did not start on his own responsibility, but he has the responsibility to end it as soon as possible.

“On June 9, one started unprecedented harakiri in the lineup. It is my duty to ensure unity and perspective. It is clear that PASOK will not be drawn into division and introversion. This debate was not started by me, but I have a responsibility as president to close it as soon as possible. I will not become a hostage to anyone inside and outside PASOK. I recommend that the elections be held on October 6th and the second round, if necessary, on October 13th and an open EC three weeks before for the presentation of nominations».

Also, Mr. Androulakis proposed a debate among the candidates, while he also announced his own candidacy saying that he will ask for the renewal of the world’s trust in the faction to work until the final overthrow, so that together with PASOK all those healthy forces of our country who want to enter an end to the current arrogant and clientelistic government of the New Democracy. A PASOK that does not have power for power’s sake as its own goal, but strives to bring real hope to the citizens. Justice, transparency and ethics in politics”.

He argued that “the real perspective for a space will come only when you step firmly on your feet, know where you have to go and have no dependencies and commitments”.

The president of PASOK was sharp, speaking of a “catwalk of personal ambitions in the party, you leave, let me come because I will do it better, without there being another plan, another point of view, a strategic agreement”.

He categorically rejected them cooperation scenarios with SYRIZA saying: “There are scenarios on the well-known tables of the triangle in the center of Athens, regarding the liquidation of PASOK and its unification with SYRIZA. I have news about the behind the scenes directors. From the late Fofi Gennimata I received a party that I raised and I will not allow it to become a component in anyone’s games.”

He went on to say: “I believe in dialogue and the programmatic convergence of the progressive forces of society. The choice of strengthening PASOK and parallel political enlargement is a one-way street. But, let’s make it clear: Summit meetings and negotiations with persons who make the need for their political survival a priority, do not strengthen the democratic faction, but will bankrupt it morally and politically, resulting in the longevity of the New Democracy”.

He announced that after the internal party elections in PASOK “we will hold a unifying political conference where we will call on all progressive forces to find a common strategy and coordinate to create a progressive front with proposals and values”. to work even more intensely for the total overthrow.

Nikos Androulakis admitted that “mistakes were made by me and I have no difficulty in taking responsibility. I recognize that on some critical issues we sent a blurred political message and appeared bilingual. And this is something that we will all have to correct in the next period of time.”

At another point, he emphasized: “PASOK grew up with efforts and sacrifices and arrived here today not to become a negotiation tool so that some people can satisfy their arrogant ambitions. For me, there is a way. Let’s put forward our programmatic discourse and proceed with convergences from below, with the world of the center and the center-left, as we are already successfully doing in the Greek region”.

Mr. Androulakis emphasized that “with shadows of the past where the core of their strategy for the last 10 years was the poisoning and ultimately the dissolution of PASOK, I personally have no business. Clean conversations.”

He committed by accepting the harsh criticism that after the elections a new structure is needed and a smaller Political Councilso that it constitutes a real political center of the party that will take decisions and determine the strategy.

“With a sense of responsibility towards the faction, the country, but also the ordinary people of PASOK who have always been my only and great support. I will also address them in the upcoming elections, asking for the renewal of their trust. To continue our upward trajectory, but with even bigger steps. Keeping the same principles and values, with ethics, with honesty, with seriousness and responsibility. But with more intense action. With more aggressive communication. With more initiatives and with greater collegiality. Correcting mistakes, joining forces, accelerating our momentum. These are my commitments to each and every one of them, to the members of the faction but also to the great history of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement!”.

He noted that our opponents are not in this room because, as he said, “we may have different approaches, but in the end we are all moving forward together. Our unity has been forged through hardship. And when our electoral procedures are completed, as I said on December 12, 2021, there will be no winners and losers.”

Nikos Androulakis mentioned that PASOK went up in the elections at the time when New Democracy and SYRIZA were falling, and emerged as the second party in the region and the color green appeared again on the map of the territory after 12 years.

“So I would like you to look into the eyes of the people of the faction that fought bravely in every corner of the country and tell them that what they achieved is a disaster for some of you. Tell him that what he won was for you self-evident. And explain to him why, at a time when SYRIZA is falling apart and New Democracy is facing decline and introversion for the first time since 2016, they are showing PASOK paralyzed by putting personal strategies above the collective good.”