Vangelis Meimarakis

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leadership candidate Vangelis Meimarakis suffered a huge loss on Saturday, December 26, when his sister died after battling with cancer.

24 hours after the polls closed for the leadership elections held by the conservative New Democracy (ND) party on Sunday, central election committee (KEFE) chief Yiannis Tragakis announced the 85% of the results showing a clear lead for former ND interim leader Vangelis Meimarakis at 39.51%, followed with more than 10 units difference by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Apostolos Tzitzikostas at 21.15%

Greece’s conservative main opposition New Democracy (ND) party failed to elect a party leader on Sunday, December 20. This means that a runoff vote is to take place on January 10 after former interim party leader Vangelis Meimarakis garnered most of the votes but not the absolute majority according to the party’s initial estimates as official results won’t be available until Monday afternoon.

Former interim leader Vangelis Meimarakis, the leadership candidate that is tipped to be in the lead, is watching the results of the voting of the New Democracy leader as they pour in from his office at Daphne, a district in south Athens.

Supporters and colleagues have gathered to watch the results and there is optimism concerning his chances.

More than 400,000 voters showed up at the conservative main opposition leadership elections, double the number that had been expected. For this reason, the voting session has been extended to ensure that everybody until the last member has a chance to cast their vote.

Caretaker conservative New Democracy (ND) leader Yiannis Plakiotakis voted for the leadership elections at Agios Nikolaos Crete at 9.30 a.m. in the morning. He said, “Today we are voting for the present and future of our faction. With our vote we are securing union and supporting a common efort for the creation of a large, strong and modern New Democracy.

Pathogenic problems in the main opposition conservative New Democracy (ND) party of Greece came to the fore just days ahead for the marathon leadership race that ends on Sunday.

New Democracy (ND) interim leader Yiannis Plakiotakis said that elections for the new party leader on Sunday, December 20, would roll smoothly. He urged members and friends of the party to vote.

Just two days prior to the New Democracy (ND) leadership elections, conservative main opposition leadership candidate Vangelis Meimarakis wrote an open letter to members and friends of the party.

He writes:

Greek men and women,

New Democracy men and women,

One day after the cancellation of the elections for the new leader of New Democracy and the turmoil caused afterwards, the candidates and those responsible for the organization of the election process continue to blame each other and make announcements revealing a great gap among New Democracy executives.