The upside of a huge defeat
On Sunday, PASOK suffered a heavy electoral defeat, but it also won a crucial intra-party challenge. In fact, it won because the loss was so great. A «bloodless» resolution of the party’s leadership issue was by no means a given. Evangelos Venizelos had hinted quite clearly that if PASOK was to lose by even one vote, he would bring up the leadership question. The larger the gap between the two parties, however, the fewer the chances of Papandreou retaining presidency of PASOK. Had New Democracy won with just two percentage points, things would have been much different at PASOK’s Harilaou Trikoupi headquarters. The leadership challenge would probably have been played out in a much more «bloody» manner, perhaps even threatening the party’s unity. Even though the white knight lost his luster early on, Papandreou continued running PASOK in a manner more fitting to a family business than a political party. His «proprietary» outlook may likely have led him to deal with the leadership issue in a more aggressive way had the magnitude of the electoral defeat allowed it. The party president has an inalienable right to ask for a renewal of his mandate. From a political perspective, however, his insistence at staying at the helm shows a flimsy grasp of reality. History offered Papandreou a very handsome opportunity and he failed to take advantage. He has missed the boat. His decision to ask for a renewal of his mandate may have been dictated by personal reasons but, essentially, it serves both PASOK and his opponent Venizelos. It is good for PASOK because the party must finally give up the herd mentality of having just one candidate, which arises not from political motives, but from the ability of the aspiring leader to conquer the seat of power. Papandreou’s decision also favors Venizelos because his election via competition will ensure greater political legitimacy. An unchallenged «yes» vote carries no more commitment than an election by acclamation. As Monday’s polls illustrated, the battle of succession has been decided before it has even begun. Venizelos’s statements on Sunday fixed that which was already assumed. The fact that the party cadres moved almost en masse from the side of the defeated chief to that of his opponent confirmed it. Without a doubt, the «barons» have pulled the rug out from under Papandreou. But this is the coup de grace and not the cause of his imminent downfall. Had he scored points politically, they would have changed their stance. As things stand, they are backing Venizelos’s candidacy in exchange for his future favor. It’s too early, however, to say. Firstly because «power reveals the real man,» and secondly, because Venizelos’s monstrous self-confidence (if not arrogance) may prove valuable on this particular issue.
