Haris Doukas is supported by the party’s MEP Nikos Papandreou in the second round of the internal party elections for PASOK president. His attitude is significant as he had taken a stand in favor of Pavlos Geroulanos.
As he points out in his public intervention (article in Kathimerini), he poses the dilemma of stagnation or change and chooses change, directly giving his support to Haris Doukas for president of PASOK. At the same time, however, he reserves severe criticism for the current president of PASOK, Nikos Androulakis, who is vying for leadership again. He notes that he was given opportunities, wasted them politically and was judged…
It is also noteworthy that Nikos Papandreou proposes that on the day after the elections, PASOK should form a strong leadership group – a new participative version of the “Executive Office” – so that the President of PASOK would be surrounded by “deserving and capable political executives, from those they emerged from the internal party process, but also others with high expertise and impact in society”. He essentially proposes a new model of party operation (chairman first among equals), which in his view helps the party reconnect with society, strengthens unity and ensures bilateral political expansion, as well as meeting the different demands of urban centers and the Region .
Regarding the elections of October 13, Nikos Papandreou’s position in favor of Haris Doukas is clear. “The current leadership participated in many electoral processes and had multiple opportunities to show its virtues. Personally, for all the reasons I mentioned above, I’m not sure there is another time.
On the other hand, Haris Doukas seems to have realized the spirit of the times and the necessity to take immediate political action for the bilateral expansion of the Faction and its connection with the productive classes, the Self-Government and Society. He seems to have understood the message of the first ballot”, he points out. To complete:
“So we have the choice to give a second – or, dare I say, a third – chance to a leadership that wasted critical political time and was judged for it. But there is also the possibility of giving a first chance to a new politician to serve a new political model. This is a central dilemma of this coming Sunday.
Between Stagnation and Change, personally, I usually choose the latter. Change. You see, the circumstances make the demand for immediate and radical change of PASOK more relevant than ever.”
The entire article by Nikos A. Papandreou is as follows:
“The renewal and return of PASOK to a governing orbit is essential for Greek society. It is the only political body with the political will as well as the historically proven governmental ability to protect and empower Greek citizens. PASOK must be ready to fight the next elections, and the changes must be made within the next year. There is no time to waste.
The first intra-party ballot of PASOK highlighted oppositions in the body of Members and Friends on the axis between the political Center and the Center-Left and on the axis between Attica and the Region. This is also reflected in the distribution of votes among the candidates, which was relatively balanced overall. In my view, these constitute a clear mandate for the cooperation of persons and the composition of policies. The new leadership will be called upon to formulate programmatic positions and propose policies that will bring about the bilateral enlargement of the political axis.
The message of the first internal party ballot and the magnitude of the problems indicate the need for radical changes in the framework of the party’s leadership. On the very day after the elections, it is necessary to form a strong leadership team. As an example, it would be a decidedly more modern and participatory version of the “Executive Office”.
In this case, the President will be surrounded by worthy and capable political executives, from those who emerged from the internal party process, but also others with high expertise and impact in society. The problems are multifactorial and complex. Leadership participants will have pre-defined and specialized responsibilities and oversight of relevant cross-cutting policy areas where necessary. In this operating model the President is essentially first among equals.
A clearly more participatory leadership presupposes the strengthening of intra-party cooperation and collective decision-making, so that the party can rebuild and reconnect with society. This approach ensures bipartisan political expansion, as well as meeting the diverse demands of urban centers and the Region, and strengthens party unity.
I point out that the need to transform the party takes place amid a condition of political liquidation. The historical condition comes in the form of urgency. If PASOK does not occupy vital political space in the public sphere, someone else will who may not embrace its timeless values.
As I have pointed out, in my opinion, the double change of leadership and also of the leadership model is a prerequisite for an absolutely necessary political leap. Small steps are not enough.
The question today is, who can serve the new and necessary logic between the two gladiators next Sunday?
The current leadership participated in many electoral processes and had multiple opportunities to show its virtues. Personally, for all the reasons I mentioned above, I’m not sure there is another time.
On the other hand, Haris Doukas seems to have realized the spirit of the times and the necessity to take immediate political action for the bilateral expansion of the Faction and its connection with the productive classes, the Self-Government and Society. He seems to have understood the message of the first ballot.
So we have the choice to give a second – or, dare I say, a third – chance to a leadership that wasted crucial political time and was judged for it. But there is also the possibility of giving a first chance to a new politician to serve a new political model. This is a central dilemma of this coming Sunday.
Between Stagnation and Change, personally, I usually choose the latter. Change. You see, the circumstances make the demand for immediate and radical change of PASOK more urgent than ever.
In the end, the only and absolute judge will be the Members and Friends of PASOK who attended last Sunday. The large turnout of PASOK Members and Friends will come as a culmination of last Sunday’s highly successful process and will give strong legitimacy and a clear mandate of cooperation and composition to the new leader. PASOK’s strength is its people.”
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