PASOK leadership race and developments in the Middle East in the spotlight

The leadership race in the socialist PASOK party and its implications for the center-left will dominate this week's political agenda as the party heads into a runoff election next Sunday.

The pre-election campaign has benefited the party by increasing its visibility and generating wider interest in its electoral process, without damaging it with toxic conflicts. Due to its position in the political system, PASOK, which has already established itself in second place in the polls, has a de facto special role and its internal party election is not only about itself and its voters, but will affect the next day of the party system.

At the same time, SYRIZA remains mired in toxic infighting and introspection. New Democracy's 50th birthday last Friday was overshadowed by the absence of two former prime ministers, Antonis Samaras and Costas Karamanlis.

Greece and...