Vangelis Meimarakis

Self-styled anarchists clashed with police guarding an event in Athens where former conservative prime minister Antonis Samaras and other New Democracy lawmakers were in attendance.

Conservative MEP candidate Vangelis Meimarakis said Wednesday that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras should have ejected Alternate Health Minister Pavlos Polakis from the government following his controversial remarks about a New Democracy MEP candidate who uses a wheelchair.

New Democracy MP Vangelis Meimarakis is expected to give up his seat ahead of European Parliament elections in May where he will run as a candidate.
In comments made Wednesday, the 65-year-old politician said he would not make use of a new provision allowing lawmakers to run as candidates in European Parliament elections without having to give up their status as MP at home.

Former defense minister Vangelis Meimarakis, 64, who also served as temporary leader of New Democracy in 2015, will head the conservative ballot in the elections for European Parliament in May.

His candidacy was confirmed on Wednesday after Meimarakis met with New Democracy chief Kyriakos Mitsotakis the previous evening.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of Greece’s major opposition party New Democracy, promised to ‘rebuild’ the party and enter ‘a truth pact’ with the people, during his address at the party’s opening day of its 10th Convention in Athens, Friday. ‘You gave me the mandate to build New Democracy from scratch’, he told party delegates.

New Democracy (ND) newly elected leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis started his meetings with party members in an effort to define his stance on issues to be tabled in Parliament.

Newly elected New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday sent a message of renewal during the hand-over ceremony at the party offices.

Mitsotakis thanked Ioannis Plakiotakis, who served as interim leader, for his work adding that the party has deep roots in the society.

Candidate Vangelis Meimarakis appeared optimistic about the election results and voters’ participation. According to information, about 40,000 voters have already cast their vote.

After casting his vote, Mr. Meimarakis said “Today New Democracy celebrates” stressing that there are neither winners nor losers, but today wins democracy within New Democracy party.

Just a few hours before the second round of elections for the new leadership of New Democracy, the two candidates, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Vangelis Meimarakis, talked to reporters referring to their views and inviting the supporters of New Democracy to cast their vote on Sunday.

It was a long hot summer in Greece in 2015, but that’s not to say that politicians didn’t enjoy the days of heat…

PM Alexis Tsipras

ND leadership candidate Vangelis Meimarakis