By Antonis Anzoletou

The “thriller” of Attica kept the interest of PASOK undiminished until around midnight, when the landscape became clear and the Harry Doukaswithin the limits of statistical error, beat him in the thread Pavlos Gerulano. There are many messages for the mayor of Athens, who seems that the capital has not appreciated his decision to proceed to claim the presidency of the movement without even “warming up” his chair in Kotzia Square.

The debut of Nikos Androulakis it was not disputed for a moment last night and the president of PASOK, confirming almost all the polls, came out first with a percentage that reached 30%. In Attica, Haris Doukas he was in fourth place behind Pavlos Geroulanos, Anna Diamantopoulou and Nikos Androulakis. This was the fact that almost brought the upset last night with the “score” having ups and downs, as at 11.30 pm the difference was 473 votes. Ten minutes later the incorporation of larger sections into the basin widened the gap to 923 votes.

The “battle of seven days” for Nikos Androulakis and Haris Doukas started yesterday, as both look at how they will approach the approximately 137,000 votes collected by the four who did not get the ticket for the second round. The difference between the two amounts to 24,000 votes with the current president seeming to gain “points” from the fact that he decided early to appeal to the polls. From the statements made late last night, no one appeared to be in favor of one or the other, speaking in unison. “Citizens do not need to direct them, the battle is still open,” said Pavlos Geroulanos. Anna Diamantopoulou said: “I deeply believe that the next day we will be united and we will all work together for the great PASOK”. Without giving any line, Michalis Katrinis stated that “the citizens will freely and uninfluencedly decide who will lead the faction”, while Nadia Giannakopoulou emphasized that “we will fight for the strengthening and renewal of PASOK”.

Traditionally in the second round participation is reduced. Typically in 2021, while in the first contest 268,000 voted, after a week 208,000 came to the polls. What does this mean? How many of the voters come to the polls in order to vote for specific persons and prefer abstention rather than supporting someone they consider “closer” to them. Since the four will not give a “ring” things will be more open with the “asterisk” that the same number of voters will not come to the “green ballot boxes”. The tactics they will follow from now on will be very interesting. It is recalled that Nikos Androulakis insists on the autonomous path of PASOK, while the mayor of Athens has not hidden his intention for openings towards the wider space of the progressive faction.

In PASOK, however, some great expectations that had been expressed – and possibly had to do with the increase in the polls – for a number of voters that would exceed 350,000 were denied. In relation to 2021, the increase finally reached 11% without finally causing any great excitement.