Conservative ND party kicks off procedures for new leader

Conservative New Democracy leader Vangelis Meimarakis met with the secretary of the ND political committee, Andreas Papamimikos, on Monday night. During their meeting it was decided to kick off procedures for the election of a new party leader as soon as possible.

Sources state that the procedure is taking place following pressure by the party’s right wing that wants to adjust the party’s centrist alignment as presented during the recent elections.

A number of ND officials are in favor of calm so as to understand the reasons for the conservative party’s defeat in the September 20 elections, whereas another camp wants a return to the hard line tactics that had been adopted by the party’s previous leader Antonis Samaras.

ND right-wing deputies, lead by Makis Voridis and Adonis Georgiadis, are in favor of a hardening of ND’s stand. They point to the loss of 200,000 voters for the party on Sunday, stating that this is a result of the mild line that had been followed by the party after July 5 when the leadership was handed to Meimarakis.

Samaras’ return to the helm of the party remains open, however other ND officials, such as Evangelos Antonaros maintain that the real reason for the party’s defeat should be sought prior to July as the SYRIZA party was already 10 unit points ahead when Meimarakis took over.

Supporters of the current party leader say that Meimarakis managed to solidify the faction.

Other names being heard for the position are those of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Petros Tatoulis, whereas there is a leak that points to Voridis himself as candidate.