PASOK rings changes

Papandreou to remove Xenoyiannakopoulou as party secretary

Socialist leader George Papandreou pulled a surprise move yesterday when he demanded the resignation of his party secretary Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou after just 20 months in the job.

Papandreou proposed that she be replaced by PASOK spokesman Nikos Athanassakis. There was no clear indication yesterday as to who would replace Athanassakis.

During a brief meeting of PASOK’s political council yesterday afternoon, Papandreou told high-ranking party officials that he would be replacing his previous choice for party secretary and putting the political council up for re-election.

Xenoyiannakopoulou was elected as PASOK’s first woman secretary in March 2005 after Papandreou nominated her.

She was seen as a symbol of the Socialist leader’s effort to modernize the opposition party but her position weakened following October’s local elections when PASOK did not fare as well as its officials had hoped.

The Socialists won 22 prefectures outright, up from 19 in 2002 but New Democracy equaled its record of winning 30 prefectures. PASOK had been hoping for a better performance to use as a springboard to reduce New Democracy’s relatively steady lead in opinion polls.

After the results, Papandreou promised changes in his party.

Papandreou’s decisions are due to be rubber-stamped during a meeting of PASOK’s national council today as the Socialist leader reshuffles his pack ahead of general elections, which are due to take place in the next 15 months.

The outgoing party secretary told reporters after yesterday’s meeting that she is still fully committed to the party. She vowed to keep trying to get PASOK back into power regardless of what position she holds.

In what is seen as a substantial demotion for Xenoyiannakopoulou, Papandreou proposed that she take the position of coordinator at PASOK’s next party conference when the party’s electoral pledges will be drawn up.

Papandreou also proposed yesterday the creation of a parliamentary council to replace PASOK’s coordinating body. The new group will be headed by MP Dimitris Reppas. Papandreou suggested that a policy committee should be created as well. He nominated MP Anna Diamantopoulou to be in charge of this committee.