Upcoming role assignments in PASOK: Androulakis restructures parliamentary group

Nikos Androulakis has scheduled a reshuffling of forces within the parliamentary group and the establishment of a Political Headquarters at Harilaou Trikoupi for early next week. This will involve not only some members of the younger generation but also his three competitors from the recent leadership election.

Androulakis has sent signals to those directly involved for Monday and Tuesday, noting that it’s likely that Doukas, Geroulanos, and Anna Diamantopoulou will be invited to join the newly formed Political Office. It appears that Michalis Katrinis and Nadia Giannakopoulou will be proposed for the role of “shadow minister.” Discussions remain open regarding the possibility of offering vice-presidency positions to Pavlos Geroulanos and Anna Diamantopoulou. However, the A’ Athens MP seems to prefer maintaining control of the Economy Sector in Parliament, while the head of the Reform Network insists that a Conference should precede such decisions.

Before any announcements, there will be discussions between the PASOK leader and his rivals. Androulakis had a brief conversation with Haris Doukas, during which the Mayor of Athens invited him to his wedding on Saturday. Anna Diamantopoulou has been abroad until yesterday, while Pavlos Geroulanos, along with others, awaits Androulakis’s final plan for changes. It’s clear that Androulakis is trying to buy time to hear the suggestions from his colleagues in Parliament and the party. He is in regular communication only with his close aides, who have been aware of his intentions regarding personnel changes and corrections (which he committed to) in the party’s operations since the pre-election period.

The changes will start with a reshuffle within the parliamentary group. Parliamentary spokesperson duties seem to be assigned to Pavlos Christidis, Panagiotis Doudonis, and Dimitris Mantzos, with whom Androulakis often meets. The new secretary of PASOK’s parliamentary group (replacing Evaggelia Liakouli) is expected to be either the experienced MP from northern Athens, Milena Apostolaki, or the member of the Political Council, Paris Koukoulooulos. All these MPs were at the forefront during the internal pre-election period and will take on new portfolios in parliamentary committees during the reshuffle.

Regardless of the choices made in the recent internal elections, many MPs will be rewarded for their contributions and will either retain their current portfolios or take on new ones that are significant for implementing a vigorous and reliable opposition strategy.

“There is much work to be done on a political, organizational, and communication level for the party to aim for victory in the next elections,” emphasizes Geroulanos, also highlighting that the composition of the bodies should not mechanically represent the factions within the party but should resonate with society. Anna Diamantopoulou, who returned from Berlin last night, has pointed out the need to leverage the “new demographic landscape” that emerged from the internal elections. Haris Doukas, who competed against Androulakis in the second round of the leadership election, prioritizes his work in the Municipality of Athens. As a candidate who garnered 40% against Androulakis, he is expected to express his political views on the developments in a manner that contributes to PASOK’s collective goal of uniting forces for the party’s upward trajectory and success in the national elections. It’s possible that supporters of Doukas may be nominated for the new informal body, the Political Office.

“We are moving into the next day with unity, synthesis, and expansion,” said Thanasis Glavinas. The PASOK spokesperson initially emphasized that “the base of the faction confirmed its trust in Nikos Androulakis” and added that “one of the mandates from the base was to include the worthy competitors of Androulakis in positions of responsibility and to have them serve as frontline fighters in the next day.” Glavinas also mentioned that “there are other capable members who have proven they can, in a sense, constitute the future government team.” This is the framework that Androulakis will seek to assemble while proceeding with changes in the parliamentary group and forming new strike teams at Harilaou Trikoupi.

Creation of a Unified Political Headquarters and Daily “Morning Coffee” Sessions

According to information, Androulakis wants the “morning coffee” meetings to occur daily and continuously. He has also decided to establish a Political Headquarters, the “Political Center,” which will convene once or twice a week to strategize. He aims to form sectors that have not previously functioned within the party (such as local government) and will strive to create communication bridges between members and various bodies. His fellow candidates and those needed will participate not only in the Political Center but also in the morning coffee meetings, and vice versa, as the spokesperson will attend the Political Center meetings.

At Harilaou Trikoupi, Androulakis is undoubtedly designating individuals (mainly) from the younger generation who stood by him during the electoral battle. Stefania Mourela has retained and strengthened her role as Director of Communications, a position she was appointed to immediately after Androulakis was elected leader in 2021. Evangelos Tsogkas, who led the strategic targeting and communication campaign during the election battle, will continue to work alongside Androulakis. It seems that the daily meetings will include the three parliamentary spokespeople, Dimitris Mantzos, Panagiotis Doudonis, and Pavlos Christidis, as well as prospective MEPs Lefteris Karchimakis, Kostas Tsoukalas, Olga Markoyanaki, and Myrto Samara, the spokesperson Thanasis Glavinas, and other members with political and organizational responsibilities. Androulakis’s goal, as he committed while seeking re-election, is to hold frequent meetings of the Political Council and the Central Committee, the two party bodies whose members were elected based on the previous party conference.

The Political Planning of the party may be assigned to Lefteris Karchimakis, while the Coordinating Body for the Conference may go to Kostas Tsoukalas. If a Central Committee for Conference Organization is not quickly established, thus allowing the Political Council and the Central Committee to continue existing, then Andreas Spyropoulos will remain Secretary of the party. Otherwise, Spyropoulos will take on a new role at Harilaou Trikoupi immediately.

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