The change of New Democracy’s internal regulations so that MPs considering running for a spot in European Parliament must first give up their seat in Greek parliament, is something that the Prime Minister and party president Antonis Samaras must take into consideration.

A senior ND officer stressed that Samaras “is not obliged to anyone”, meaning that he will be in the position to chose the candidates he wants, without having to bargain and negotiate with other ND members.

The Minister of Interior Yannis Michelakis recently made the revelation on Vima FM, which has made a number of New Democracy MPs, such as Katerina Papakosta and K. Mousouroulis, to reconsider their initial plans. The former party secretary Manolis Kefalogiannis is also undecided, despite having been tasked with the election campaign.

To Vima has been informed that Dora Bakoyanni is not considering running in the upcoming European elections, as she is rumored to be considered for the European Commission, where she will also be assigned a “strong” portfolio. Konstantinos Karamanlis – the son of MP and former MP Achilleas Karamanlis – has also not turned down an offer to run in the European elections, as he wants to focus on establishing himself in Greek parliament.

Likely candidates on Samaras’ list are current MEP Niki Tzavella, who was elected with LAOS in 2009, the head of New Democracy’s European team Marietta Giannakou and MEPs Giorgos Koumoutsakos amd Rodi Kratsa. Other New Democracy officers interested in participating in the upcoming elections include Failos Kraniditotis, professor D. Davettas, ND’s press spokeswoman Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou and the director of the “Konstantinos Karamanlis” institute Marianna Pyrgioti.