Fofi Gennimata

By George Gilson

Centre-left Movement for Change leader Fofi Gennimata has unleashed a frontal attack against main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis over his warning that if New Democracy does not receive a strong mandate in the 7 July general election then the country will be led to a second parliamentary election in August, in the middle of most Greeks' summer vacation.

Movement for Change leader Fofi Gennimata has ruled out the prospect of her centre-left party joining a coalition government with the top party in the 7 July general election, which according to all polls will be New Democracy by a wide margin.

"We are seeking a strong mandate in order to overturn the political scene," Gennimata said.

Evangelos Venizelos' farewell speech in Parliament earlier this week, which took place during a debate on a slew of new amendments to the country's criminal code and code of criminal procedure, was addressed to a half-empty auditorium.

The parliamentary group and political secretariat of center-left Movement for Change (KINAL) met on Tuesday in a bid to restore a sense of calm following the withdrawal of Socialist heavyweight Evangelos Venizelos and subsequent departures of two election candidates and a party cadre. 

Socialist veteran Evangelos Venizelos accused Movement for Change (KINAL) leader Fofi Gennimata of committing political suicide by playing into the hands of New Democracy and denied rumors that he was eyeing some form of cooperation with the center-right opposition.

Center-left Movement for Change (KINAL), which is polling in third place ahead of national elections in July, was in a state of upheaval on Sunday after two candidates and a party cadre quit in protest at the withdrawal of socialist heavyweight Evangelos Venizelos. 

In a bombshell move, centre-left Movement for Change (mainly Pasok) leader Fofi Genninata has shown ex-Pasok leader Evangelos Venizelos the door after her decision today to give former Athens Mayor Yorgos Kaminis the top spot on the party's statewide ticket after months of rumours that Venizelos would be offered the slot.

Evangelos Venizelos, a former leader of the socialist PASOK party, and foreign minister, has quit the Movement for Change (KINAL), the socialist alliance that got third place in last week's European Parliament election.

Fofi Gennimata, leader of the centrist alliance Movement for Change (KINAL), did not rule out cooperating with SYRIZA or New Democracy after elections later this year.

With Greece gearing up for ballots next month, ruling SYRIZA is trying to expand its electoral catchment by rebranding its image as a "progressive" political force.