Four hands up for leadership

Four candidates have emerged to contest the leadership of New Democracy in December.

Former Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, ex-Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, former Culture Minister Antonis Samaras and Thessaloniki Prefect Panayiotis Psomiadis have declared their candidature.

Ordinary party members Evangeloa Roupaka and Spiros Mastrodimos are also rumoured to be throwing their hat into the ring.

Current favourite Dora Bakoyannis promised to do her best for ND’s speediest political recovery possible, when she announced her candidature. The former foreign minister called on the party’s members and friends to support her with their confidence in this new start.

Bakoyannis emphasised that her priority is the shaping of an alternative governmental proposal with ideas and solutions which address the problems of Greeks. She stressed the need for ND to become a majority and modern European party of the entire centre-right and pointed out that the party has no need for a new ideology.

Dimitris Avramopoulos said he was nominating for the leadership because of the obligation all members of New Democracy have to create a new, modern, centre-Right party in tune with the spirit of the times and which directly expresses the expectations of the rank and file members and of society

Avramopoulos called “a new start for the party with hope, unity and perspective” and made special reference to his proposal on the election of an ND president by the broad membership of the party.

Antonis Samaras announced his nomination by calling for unity at the top of the party without undermining its membership base. He proclaimed freedom, dignity, merit, competitiveness and social justice are important values in New Democracy, particularly if it wants to return to government.

New Democracy’s organising committee met on Friday to finalise the process for electing a new leader.

New Democracy party organising committee President Dimitris Sioufas announced over the weekend that the election of the party’s president will take place on December 6, following an  agreement between the four  leadership contenders.

The election ballot will be open, according to Soufias, and new members who sign up in the run up to ballot will be able to take part.

Current party leader Costas Karamanlis has agreed to stay on as President until the process for the election of a new leader is completed.

The deadline for candidates to step forward has also been extended to Thursday 22 October, as long as the nomination is accompanied by 50 signatures of conference delegates.