“The PASOK he is back and ready to take on his responsibilities. Citizens demand convincing solutions here and now. The time has come for the country to turn the page and for the citizens to regain perspective and hope. Be sure that PASOK, as the next progressive government of the country, will fight for a new creative path”. This was stated by the president of PASOK-KINAL, Nikos Androulakisstarting first of the party’s presidential candidates, his speech at the enlarged meeting of the Central Political Committee, at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, three weeks before the internal party elections.

“The members and friends of our Movement will be asked to decide not only the person who will lead PASOK but something more important: The style, ethos and direction that the next government of the country will have”, he noted and added: “From the question “who will you go with” we worked hard so that our victory against the New Democracy would be an expectation of the citizens. We worked very hard to escape the millstones and strengthen our power.”

Proclaiming that PASOK is once again a leading autonomous pole, Mr. Androulakis emphasized that it is ready for the next big step. “Putting an end to the failed New Democracy government”, he pointed out, harshly criticizing the Mitsotakis government for the policy it follows at almost all levels.

“That is why we have a duty to reverse this decline. Strengthen the separation of powers by changing the way the judicial leadership is selected in the constitutional review. Institutionally strengthening self-government and independent Authorities. Our compass, meritocracy and transparency to stop the waste of public resources and the thousands of direct assignments to private and cronies. Only PASOK can open the exit door of the Maximos Palace for Mr. Mitsotakis and his company,” he added.

Taking stock of the two and a half years in the leadership of the party, Mr. Androulakis listed the successes achieved by PASOK, raising its percentage to almost 13%. At the same time, he took responsibility for mistakes, weaknesses and omissions in the operation of the party, while he pledged that if he is re-elected, he will correct malfunctions and internal party procedures.

He also strongly countered criticism from his inner-party rivals that the party was not functioning as a unit and blamed them for questioning him about personal strategies rather than the party’s success.

“The message is clear: The democratic faction can become a government with the principles and values ​​of a PASOK that learned from its mistakes. The SYRIZization in operation, in the behavior of the executives, in the political strategy will be destructive for our path and ultimately a gift to the New Democracy”, he underlined to add:

“If something saddens me, not only politically but also humanly, it is the persistence and ease of some to discredit what we have achieved. The perspective is not in “messiahs” and wrappings, but in consistency, seriousness, reliability, methodicality. You cannot accuse others of inconsistency and be inconsistent yourself. To denounce cynicism and act cynically yourself. The parties that invest in the wave of opportunism and ephemeral tactics usually deflate with it… These are not what PASOK is for, and PASOK should not become this way.”

Also, Mr. Androulakis left tips for those who “are not looking for “producible” as they tear their clothes, but “manageable”. “I was not manageable and I will not be because I am always accountable to the Greek people and the members of the faction. Because I have always had the support of the ordinary citizens I met along the way, in every corner of Greece”, he concluded, applauded by executives who support him.