Third PASOK runner possible
The possibility of a third candidate standing in the PASOK leadership race appeared to increase yesterday as party leader George Papandreou and his challenger Evangelos Venizelos began to prepare their strategies for the November 11 ballot. Sources within the Socialist party indicated that 48-year-old Athens MP Anna Diamantopoulou was close to announcing her candidacy on Thursday night but decided to hold back so she could first canvas support. Diamantopoulou is a former EU commissioner for employment and social affairs and has yet to declare her support for Papandreou or Venizelos. Another PASOK heavyweight considering his position is 69-year-old former Foreign and Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos, who refused to rule out running for leader during a televised interview yesterday. Other possible candidates include former Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou, ex-Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis, former party spokesman Petros Efthymiou and ex-Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis. «There are some people who say that another solution has to be found,» said Vasso Papandreou yesterday. «This may or may not happen.» George Papandreou’s team, meanwhile, began contacting regional party officials and encouraging them to convince local members to vote for the current leader. Venizelos chose instead to attack the government, saying it was vital that New Democracy should not be allowed to feel that it can «move freely.»
