A wave of political tension has rippled through the ranks of PASOK after Athens Mayor Haris Doukas voiced his discontent over the exclusion of several senior party figures from the party’s upcoming Congress committees, while simultaneously urging for unity and open dialogue — even with Alexis Tsipras’ Progressive Party.
In an interview with Action24, Doukas, a key figure within PASOK and one of its most visible public representatives, expressed his frustration with what he called “mistaken exclusions” of experienced members from pre-congress working groups.
“There was disappointment because four or five experienced members were left out of the pre-congress teams, even though we had proposed them,” Doukas said pointedly. “The president must look into this so that we can move forward united.”
The remarks were widely interpreted as a veiled criticism of party leader Nikos Androulakis, whose control over the internal process has drawn scrutiny. Doukas also noted that he himself learned of his appointment to the Political Secretariat “from the websites,” highlighting the lack of communication within the party’s leadership.
Call for unity and leadership reform
Despite his pointed remarks, Doukas emphasized that his intention was not to divide the party but to encourage a course correction ahead of what he described as a “crucial turning point.”
He reiterated his conviction that PASOK must emerge as the leading political force in the next national elections.
“If PASOK is not the first party, there can be no political change,” he declared.
Responding to comments by Pavlos Geroulanos, who had recently referred to the party’s “stuck needle” in opinion polls, Doukas replied sharply:
“If I listened to the ‘stuck needle,’ I would never have run for Mayor of Athens. Predictions were overturned then — and they can be overturned again.”
Push for an open congress and clear positions
Doukas called for an open and democratic Congress where strategic decisions about PASOK’s future alliances should be made transparently. He reiterated his personal proposal that PASOK should rule out any post-election cooperation with the conservative New Democracy party, arguing that voters must be given a clear alternative to the current political status quo.
Dialogue with progressive forces — including Tsipras’ party
In a notable shift from his earlier stance, Doukas opened the door to dialogue with Alexis Tsipras’ party, saying that open debate among progressive forces is healthy for democracy.
“If your positions are clear, you have nothing to fear from dialogue with the progressive forces. Let’s talk even with Tsipras’ party,” he said.
Only days earlier, Doukas had ruled out any prospect of political cooperation with Tsipras himself — a statement that now seems softened amid his broader call for inclusivity and debate.
Broader political remarks and social commentary
During the same interview, Doukas also touched on several social and symbolic issues. He stressed that the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in central Athens should be “open to the public, not only during official ceremonies,” and commented that the names of the victims of the Tempi train tragedy “must not be erased until justice is served.”
Finally, he directed criticism at Thanasis Plevris, accusing the opposition MP of “making extreme statements to cement his far-right audience.”
Doukas’ latest remarks underscore the fragile balance within PASOK between loyalty to leadership and demands for renewal. His call for unity through inclusion — and his cautious outreach toward the broader progressive camp — could redefine the party’s internal dynamics ahead of the next election cycle.
