PASOK is choosing to look forward — hosting, on the evening of 6 July, its latest event organized by the Committee for Expansion and Broad Alliances in Thessaloniki. There, 46 new members were welcomed: academics, professionals from the private sector, local government officials, and civil society representatives.
Expansion Amid Internal Tensions
Yet the debate around PASOK’s so-called ‘bilateral expansion’ remains entangled with higher-profile names — notably Nina Kasimati, Evangelos Apostolakis, and especially Theodora Tzakri. Their potential inclusion is complicated by a newly introduced statutory rule limiting parliamentary service to 20 years as a prerequisite for reappearing on PASOK’s electoral lists. Crucially, such decisions rest solely with party leader Nikos Androulakis — who will determine both whether and when any such nominations are formally announced.
Internal Frictions Multiply
Other tensions have surfaced within the party in recent days. Just yesterday, two minor internal crises emerged. One centered on allegations concerning the secondment of the spouse of PASOK MEP Nikolaos Farantouris to the Permanent Greek Representation in Brussels. When asked about the matter on ERT, MP Michalis Katrini responded bluntly: ‘Straight talk. In his position, I wouldn’t have done it — I’d protect myself, my family, and the party from easy criticism.’ This came despite Farantouris’ earlier clarification that his wife was selected strictly on merit — meeting all formal and substantive qualifications — and through the legally mandated procedures of the relevant ministries. He also denied claims that the appointment had not been published in the official Government Gazette (Diavgeia).
Sgouros’ Controversial Statement
Compounding the unease was a statement by PASOK candidate Giannis Sgouros — stepping onto the national political stage for the first time. Speaking to OREN, he left open the possibility of revisiting the party’s congress decision to rule out cooperation with New Democracy (ND), should circumstances demand it.
Sgouros described PASOK as a ‘multi-faceted’ party — one capable of reflecting both centrist-right and centrist-left tendencies through its personnel and policies. He suggested that the congress decision could be reassessed after the elections, if necessary. Should PASOK finish third, he warned, ‘the alarm bells will ring for everyone — including the leadership,’ and stressed that Androulakis would not decide the party’s next steps alone.
He even hinted that the congress resolution might be bypassed via an extraordinary party congress convened under exceptional grounds — citing ‘national reasons’ or the country’s ‘economic situation’ — with governability positioned as the overriding concern.
Notably, this signal — though unofficial — originated from within PASOK itself. Yet Sgouros, despite decades of involvement in party affairs, has not held formal leadership office — underscoring the growing weight of informal voices shaping internal discourse.