The reasons for his decision to retire from PASOK, Charis Castanidis was asked to comment, speaking to ERTnews Radio 105.8.

Mr. Castanides first said, “In all possible ways, Mr. Androulakis says that I don’t want Castanides’ political participation in PASOK. He has also said so in 2023 by taking the seat of Thessaloniki without any pre-coordination and while doing so against a sitting MP. Then he attempted in every way to have people belonging to the Organizational sector and who are his associates threaten organizations that dared to invite me as a speaker, as happened in April 2025 in Ampelokipi – Menemeni (…).”

And added “He invented an amendment to the statutes at the recent congress to exclude a single person from the ballot papers: Me.Why? A single person, and the regulation is retroactive, and it applies to one person. There is no second person, because the presidents of PASOK are excluded from the regulation, namely Mr Papandreou and Mr Venizelos. They can continue to be, let us say, despite the fact that they have 20 years’ service as Members of Parliament. And not only that, but at the Delphi forum he says that I am urging others to decide that MPs with long terms of office should be excluded because they may be guilty of clientelism and bribery (…).”

Among other things, regarding PASOK’s performance, he pointed out “If we say that there are three factors that play a role in a party’s good electoral performance, they are: first, there is a very serious, well-informed and intelligent leadership, the leadership that can win the trust of the people. The second factor is the radicalisation of the people and the third factor is a programme which is owned by the Greek people with a few lines and they understand that they will be led to better days. Isn’t one of the factors and leadership playing a role? (…).”

And he stressed “As I write in my statement, I am not giving up on the PASOK of the ideas of democratic socialism, the one we loved and served since we were young children. What I am obliged to do for reasons of dignity is to resign from what Mr. Androulakis has created. And I say that I keep in my heart all the struggles that I gave with many friends and comrades and these struggles will continue.”

Finally, as to the possibility of joining another political formation, he noted that “(…). If I had to tell you that I talk to people and parties, I would tell you. Well, these are not true.”

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