Konstantinos Mitsotakis

Finally the time has arrived for the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party to choose its leader after all the pressure of failed national elections, the fiasco of a failed local election and a time of introspection as different party factions pull the party in all directions. Haven’t voted yet? Here’s a profile of the four candidates.

Following the call of the newly elected president of Parliament Ms Zoe Kaostantopoulou to all former Prime Ministers and MPs’ to hand over their private offices within the Parliament premises, the former New Democracy Prime Minister Kostantinos Mitsotakis refused to do so.

Former Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis did not rule himself out on Friday of challenging for New Democracy?s leadership should the conservative party hold a contest soon.

?We will discuss it if it happens,? he told Mega TV. Mitsotakis was one of several top New Democracy officials who met in ex-Prime Minister Antonis Samaras?s absence earlier this week.

A dispute between New Democracy and PASOK over civil servants’ salaries continued Tuesday, underlining the big task facing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos as they prepare to meet Wednesday to discuss the government’s strategy ahead of the troika’s return to Athens.

Ahead of a confidence vote designed to douse speculation about early elections, conservative coalition leader New Democracy will on Saturday celebrate the 40th anniversary of its founding in an event that is widely expected to serve as a bid to revive the party’s flagging political fortunes.

The fifth, and probably final, review of Greece’s economic reform progress by the troika is set to begin with Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis to meet foreign envoys on Tuesday morning while Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his coalition partner Evangelos Venizelos will meet later in the day to discuss strategy in an increasingly tense political climate.

Former New Democracy leaders Costas Karamanlis and Constantine Mitsotakis (photo) will take part in the events the party will hold in the next few days to mark the 40th anniversary of its founding, Kathimerini has learned.

Former honorary president of New Democracy, former Prime Minister Constantinos Mitsotakis was being treated for a respiratory infection at a hospital in Hania, Crete, on Wednesday.

According to a statement released by the health facility the senior Greek politician was in stable condition.

A meeting between Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Deputy Premier Evangelos Venizelos on Wednesday evening is expected to result in the government settling on its negotiating strategy for the talks coalition representatives are due to hold with the troika in Paris at the beginning of September.

Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed opposition on Friday to New Democracy’s apparent plans to bring back into the fold politicians who had left the party in the past and went on to be part of what he termed “populist” parties.