Schulz welcomes new centrist party, raises eyebrows inside PASOK

Martin Schulz, the center-left's candidate to lead the European Commission after EU parliamentary elections this month, has voiced his support in Greece for To Potami (The River), the newly-formed centrist party led by journalist Stavros Theodorakis.

In comments made to Kathimerini newspaper, Schulz hailed To Potami as “a responsible, progressive and pro-European force... that contributes to the battle against the forces of darkness and evil.”

Theodorakis has said To Potami will pick a group in the European Parliament after Sunday's vote.

According to Kathimerini, Schulz's comments on To Potami raised some eyebrows within socialist coalition partner PASOK which is running on Sunday's elections as part of the center-left Olive Tree (Elia) alliance.