Leadership Challenge Ahead: Athens Mayor and MP Vie for PASOK’s Top Spot

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, 44, and MP Pavlos Geroulanos, 58, have declared their intentions to challenge current PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis in an upcoming leadership contest, set to be advanced to October 6 this year following Androulakis’ proposal at a Central Political Committee meeting on Sunday.

Androulakis, 45, faced criticism after PASOK’s performance in the June 9 European Parliament elections, where the party failed to surpass SYRIZA as the second largest. Despite PASOK’s vote share increase to 12.79%, compared to SYRIZA’s 14.92% and New Democracy’s 28.31%, supporters expressed disappointment over the party’s slow recovery from the financial crisis.

Doukas, known for defeating incumbent Athens mayor Kostas Bakoyannis in last fall’s local elections with support from SYRIZA voters, surprised many by announcing his bid for party leadership soon after taking office. However, his dual role ambitions have drawn criticism.

Geroulanos, from a prominent Athens family, has deep ties with PASOK and former leader George Papandreou spanning over three decades.

His moderate approach and clear vision for the party position him as a strong contender, having secured the socialists’ single seat in the Athens

A multi-seat constituency in the last national election by defeating a party veteran, Costas Skandalidis. Despite being viewed as an outsider initially, Geroulanos’ amicable demeanour and lack of adversaries could work to his advantage in the upcoming contest.