Deep crisis in PASOK: Is a party split inevitable?
The analysis points to a serious climate of distrust and tension between opposing factions in the party and criticizes PASOK for failing to prepare as a strong opposition force for the upcoming elections.
Emotional Disconnection in PASOK Is Deepening
The internal issues coming to light are just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface lies a deep fracture that could cause a major shock at an unknown moment.
Meetings held within PASOK’s regional and local branches are reportedly dominated by tension. Figures close to the party leadership express outbursts of anger toward those they accuse of sabotaging the party president. These internal allies clash fiercely with party members who believe that PASOK is on a path to extinction under Nikos Androulakis’ leadership.
Harsh words are exchanged between factions, reflecting mutual distrust, antipathy, and even hostility. The atmosphere is far from what one would expect of a main opposition party preparing to win elections.
What’s currently keeping Androulakis afloat is the fact that Haris Doukas and Pavlos Geroulanos, the figures in whom the party opposition has placed its hopes, are not in communication with each other and have refrained from taking action, seemingly waiting for the leadership “fruit” to ripen and fall on its own.
However, this moment is unlikely to come before the national elections. Until then, some party MPs and officials who are in contact with these figures are concerned that what remains may be nothing but an “empty shell.” This raises the debate of whether it’s worth waiting for a “natural process.”
Meanwhile, officials at Harilaou Trikoupi (PASOK’s headquarters) believe that the constructive opposition they are conducting will eventually be recognized and reflected in opinion polls. They do not believe they have made significant strategic errors, nor do they feel threatened by Zoe Konstantopoulou, who has seen a rise in popularity following the government’s controversial handling of the Tempi train disaster.
The leadership prioritizes preparing programmatic positions and maintaining grassroots connections through regional congresses, placing the blame for the party’s weakening on those provoking or perpetuating internal divisions.
There are two competing interpretations of the situation:
The Androulakis camp believes the PASOK leader is being aggressively targeted by the Maximos Mansion (Prime Minister’s Office) and is viewed as a dangerous opponent to Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The opposition faction within PASOK, however, is troubled by what they see as the dysfunction of party organs and the concentration of decision-making power in a narrow circle around the president.
Supporters of Androulakis see him as a lone warrior battling powerful interests and the Mitsotakis regime. Critics argue that his primary goal is to maintain control over the party, even if it means shrinking its base.
In effect, two separate worlds coexist within PASOK, but without meaningful communication. In such cases, a “divorce” is usually inevitable—and the longer it is delayed, the more painful it becomes.
