Civil war grips PASOK over party elections

As calls within the party for leadership elections get louder, the turmoil that is threatening to upend socialist PASOK in the aftermath of the European election was on full display at Wednesday's joint meeting of the party's Political Council and the Parliamentary Group.

PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis avoided any reference to internal polls, again leveling accusations of toxicity against senior officials, while also reiterating the threat of expulsions to dissenters. The next high-stakes meeting of the Central Committee will be at the end of the month when, Androulakis said, a roadmap will be presented with initiatives for the way forward.

Androulakis could not duck the blows of his critics from across the spectrum of PASOK, both old and new generations, who were harshly critical, urgently calling for the launch of leadership election procedures from the grassroots...