Papandreou on offensive

Athanassakis voted in as party secretary; new political council named

General elections are due in the next 15 months and PASOK leader George Papandreou attempted yesterday to stamp his authority on the Socialist party, which elected a new secretary and political council.

There has been dissent within the party over the last few months, particularly after October’s local elections, as PASOK struggled to narrow New Democracy’s opinion poll lead.

Papandreou made it clear at a meeting of PASOK’s national council yesterday that he would not tolerate any more backbiting.

“I personally guarantee there will be an open dialogue but I will not accept attitudes which cuts PASOK into pieces and creates fiefdoms of personal views and strategies,” said Papandreou.

Commentators believe the comments were specifically directed at MP Evangelos Venizelos who is a PASOK stalwart and is regarded as one of Papandreou’s fiercest critics within the party.

The national council voted overwhelmingly in favor of Nikos Athanassakis as the new party secretary. He received 230 out of 285 votes. Athanassakis was previously PASOK’s spokesman but Papandreou chose him to replace Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou, who was the party’s first woman secretary and had been personally picked by Papandreou.

Athanassakis is one of Papandreou’s close aides and the PASOK leader referred to him by his nickname, “the bear,” during his speech yesterday.

Former journalist and education minister Petros Efthymiou is set to take over as PASOK’s spokesman. Efthymiou has held the position in the past.

Apart from underlining his leadership credentials, Papandreou hopes the move will also help to boost PASOK’s chances of winning the next elections.

Delegates also voted for a new political council yesterday. Another of Papandreou’s close aides, Euro MP Panos Beglitis was voted onto the panel of party officials which decides PASOK’s policies. Xenoyiannakopoulou was also voted onto the council.

The members of the new parliamentary council, which Papandreou wants to create, are due to be named today.