PASOK presidential candidate Anna Diamantopoulou calls for an end to the obstruction and for the procedures for the polls to proceed.

As she points out in her relevant letter to EDEKAP, the time frames are narrowing and the need for the smooth conduct of the elections and unimpeded mass attendance at the polls is imperative.

The letter in detail:

Dear Madam President and members of EDEKAP, in continuation of previous letters and after three long hours of meetings of the enlarged EDEKAP with the representatives of the candidates, it is found that, while the time limits are narrowing and the need for the smooth conduct of the electoral process with a view to the seamless and cumulative turnout of our fellow citizens at the polls, which is predicted to be increased is imperative, in the frameworks that have been repeatedly set and concern the increase of the polling stations by the number of tablets we have procured (1250 in number), we are consumed in endless discussions concerning part sentences
prefectural committees, which have either not been received from their respective meetings or are individual proposals of these secretaries and, certainly, do not constitute the overwhelming majority of decisions of enlarged prefectural committees with the participation of the representatives of the candidate Presidents, where, as in EDEKAP, they should the unanimity principle applies.

Furthermore, it is found that almost all of the proposals of the prefectural committees do not propose and do not favor the increase of electoral divisions, in order to facilitate the attendance of citizens and the expansion of the electoral base and the influence of our movement, as it is claimed by all the candidates that is our goal, but on the contrary, it has been proven that it aims to hinder and prevent the collective participation of our interested fellow citizens, especially in areas where, according to their judgment, the candidate of their choice does not appear particularly strong, so that the movement remains a closed one and easily controlled party.

A typical example is the Northern Sector of Athens, where in a total of 14 municipalities it was proposed to reduce the number of polling stations in 8 of them and to keep the same number in the rest except one!!!

At the same time, because the majority of the elected members of EDEKAP defend themselves against any proposals of the prefectural committees citing their alleged inability to staff them, while they know very well that the candidate Presidents will necessarily help in staffing them, they avoid or even refuse the selection of additional polling centers and of departments to be done with agreed objective criteria, which will annihilate both any methods of anyone and the avoidance
tensions, disputes and injustices, we restore in our opinion the criteria for the increase of the electoral divisions, in order to facilitate the access of the citizens, and specifically we propose:

1. Not to remove any polling station – ballot box from any municipality, nor to have a municipality without a polling station throughout the territory.
2. To increase the number of ballot boxes in the electoral centers of the capitals of the prefectures by one (1), as well as where the number of voters per ballot box exceeds or approaches 500.

3. To add one (1) polling station to all the municipalities of the Attica Region and to add five (5) new polling centers in absolutely central and easily accessible places, specifically

a. To create a polling center in O.A.K.A or in a neighboring point with at least ten (10) polling stations to serve the Northern Sector.
b. To create three (3) new polling centers in Athens, namely one (1) on Alexandra Avenue, one (1) near or on Vas Sofia Avenue and one (1) on Patision Avenue or Acharnon, with at least five (5) divisions – ballot boxes each.
c. To create a new polling center in the Southern suburbs either on Poseidonos Avenue near Glyfada – Voula or on Vouliagmeni Avenue after the height of Glyfada with at least five (5) polling stations, as well as a new polling station in the Western Sector

4. As for Thessaloniki, at least one (1) polling station should be added to each polling station and two (2) more stations should be made available
– Polls at the TIF area, as well as to add a new polling center in the Harilaou area with at least three (3) polling stations – polling stations.

5. To allocate the total of at least 1060 tablets – kalps that will be left over after the above with respective objective criteria in the region, so that it will be easier for Greek citizens to participate and the new era of the movement will be marked by the large participation through of the installation over 200 new ones
electoral divisions in the territory and abroad.

Because we believe that the election of a new president in PASOK is a deep political process, which in no case should be stigmatized by barren and “processual” confrontations, we appeal to everyone to preserve what we have achieved so far by choosing procedures that unite and do not divide.

With the hope that the pretextual excuses for the impossibility of staffing more departments will now disappear, let us remind that it is the responsibility of the party and under its auspices the electoral process and it must handle it properly, even more so, when for the staffing of the electoral committees all the candidates will support their representatives.