The Charilaou Trikoupi is keeping its distance and avoiding taking a stance in the fierce conflict Anna Diamantopoulou with Charis Doukas regarding their collaborations within PASOK.
During a period of intense internal party turmoil, PASOK appears to be failing to take clear political action to de-escalate the conflict that erupted between Anna Diamantopoulou and Haris Doukas, with the public clash over collaborations simultaneously highlighting the absence of active leadership intervention by Nikos Androulakis. Harilaou Trikoupi adopts a stance of institutional detachment, avoiding politically “defining” the framework of the disagreement, a fact that reinforces the image of internal confusion and leaves room for the escalation of statements from both sides. At a time when top officials are exchanging harsh words over the strategy for cooperation, the absence of immediate leadership intervention fuels the debate regarding a lack of central control and a clear line within the party.
The PASOK leadership is keeping its distance from the public confrontation between Anna Diamantopoulou and Haris Doukas regarding coalitions, the leadership of PASOK is maintaining a distance, believing that these accusations are harmful to the party.
The “Pontius Pilate” Logic
In a “Pontius Pilate”-style statement, officials at the H. Trikoupis headquarters noted: “Instead of top officials wasting their time on public recriminations, the party’s base—the democratic community and society at large—expects them to communicate PASOK’s proposals. Everyone is judged and must take responsibility.”
PASOK officials made no secret of their disagreement and annoyance regarding both Anna Diamantopoulou’s statement and Doukas’s response. Regarding Ms. Diamantopoulou’s view, they noted that “she should not have characterized Mr. Doukas’s approach as ‘ridiculous,’ knowing that it would provoke his reaction, while her statement that ‘the country will not be left without a government.’ For his part, the mayor responded in strong terms. “This is not the image we expect from top officials,” they emphasized in an interview with protothema.
The… Diamantopoulou’s tirade
It all began when Anna Diamantopoulou launched a tirade against Haris Doukas over the issue of collaborations, prompting the mayor of Athens to respond in kind.
Ms. Diamantopoulou sharply stated on Open TV that the discussion the mayor of Athens tried to initiate regarding a pre-election collaboration with Tsipras’s party is “a recipe for throwing open doors and windows so voters can walk out.”
“This issue, which we’re discussing right now, is a recipe for a party to throw open doors and windows and lose voters. Is that right? I mean, I can’t imagine a more ridiculous approach,” Ms. Diamantopoulou pointed out.
The former Commissioner also said that PASOK does not want to hand over centrist voters to New Democracy, while making it clear that the issue of coalition partnerships for governing will depend on the mandate voters give at the polls.
Doukas’s sharp response to Diamantopoulou
Haris Doukas responded to Ms. Diamantopoulou shortly thereafter. In a social media post, the mayor of Athens accused her of expressing views that do not represent PASOK. “The views expressed today by Ms. Diamantopoulou—in which she praises the New Democracy government for its fiscal successes and the country’s image abroad—do not reflect the views of PASOK. Given these remarks, I am not surprised that she finds the calls for dialogue within the progressive camp ridiculous.”
The positions expressed today by Ms. Diamantopoulou, in which she praises the New Democracy government for its fiscal successes and the country’s image abroad, do not reflect the views of PASOK.
SYRIZA: Androulakis Must Take a Stand
SYRIZA has also joined the fray, calling on PASOK President Nikos Androulakis and party spokesperson Kostas Tsoukalas to take a stance onwhat Anna Diamantopoulou said regarding the steady progress of our fiscal indicators and the country’s positive reception abroad.
Specifically, in its statement, the SYRIZA Press Office noted:
“Does Mr. Androulakis agree with Ms. Diamantopoulou’s statement that ‘yes, our public finances are in good shape, and the country is very well received abroad—I have to admit that.’ What does Mr. Tsoukalas have to say?”
