Galery

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In a critical time for the country, George Papandreou’s plea for a PASOK extraordinary congress and the election of a new party president is expected to trigger serious upheavals on the political scene.

In a letter to PASOK’s President following Thursday’s meeting between them, Papandreou states that the party "needs a shattering democratic political shock in order to recuperate. No less. The whole nine yards. Now."

Papandreou stresses that everything should be put on the table at PASOK’s congress: the party’s face, ideas, symbols, structures, officials.

Papandreou says that "All the processes occurring today in the movement have little to do with society and its needs. The shenanigans of the establishment, of the nomenclature, and all the meanderings of the movement, have stifled its essence."

PASOK’s headquarters responded to Papandreou by stating that "PASOK is not entitled to unleash uncertainty and instability by venturing into miserable introspections. PASOK is and will be the guarantor of national stability."

What else does Papandreou’s letter say?

Papandreou emphasizes that his proposal refers to the progress and future of PASOK as a political factor that has always identified with the struggles of the Greek people for democracy and change.

According to its former leader, ever since its creation PASOK has united those groups in Greek society, which were eager for change. During the period 2009-2011, PASOK lived up to its patriotic calling, and it did this on its own accord, without the support of any other political force – with the single aim of preventing the bankruptcy of the country.

"But the stakes ran deeper. The spectre of bankruptcy emerged from the gigantic expansion of the model of clientelist capitalism. From the undermining of democratic institutions and functions. The country's governance, especially in the period 2004-2009, contributed to the dominance of ideas and practices that have allowed the resources and wealth of the Greeks to fall victim to powerful economic interests," Papandreou underlined.

He believes that when the country is facing this predicament, it needs ideas based on the values, which organically stem from PASOK’s socialist roots; ideas and values that serve the public interest and the collective good, with common rules for all. Clear views, initiatives and battles for institutions and practices that promote fairness, transparency and accountability.

Only this can provide the basis for a sustainable economy, the consolidation of social justice and the democratic rule of law.

According to Papandreou, all those who are really pained about PASOK’s fortunes, believe that what is happening in the party now leads nowhere.

PASOK’s former president suggests that the party should convene at an extraordinary public congress.

The congress should be open for everybody who appreciates the necessity of profound changes in the country aimed at achieving justice for society. The congress is bound to discuss innovative proposals from those who understand the challenges of post-clientelist Greece. All those who wish to, should be able to participate.

An organisational committee should be elected to set the framework of the congress, on the basis of the party's democratic traditions.

Papandreou believes that PASOK needs a new president right after the congress.

These initiatives, says Papandreou, will trigger the political democratic shock that the party and the country urgently need. This is how the party might regain people’s affiliation.

As a PASOK MP, Papandreou undertakes to support these initiatives. He explains that he is personally not interested in being restored to any post in the party; his only wish is to contribute to the revival of the party and to putting the country back on its feet, to the building of fair society and improving the outlook for the nation.

Papandreou believes that in times as hard as these, the forces of democracy and socialism should again be the locomotive that will pull the country ahead. Unless the proper initiatives are taken, the political scene will succumb to instability, and the country's progress will be adversely affected.

The former leader argues that today many people avail themselves of the choices that PASOK has made. Both old and new political formations have hijacked PASOK’s ideas and unabashedly abused its achievements while displaying contemptuous attitudes towards the party. "It is our duty to respect and stand for PASOK", states Papandreou.