The political council of PASOK held a meeting on Monday in order to discuss the possibility of holding a PASOK or Olive Tree convention in October, which sparked a fierce debate amongst party officers. Ultimately it was decided to hold a PASOK convention in the fall, which in a sense spells the end for the Olive Tree initiative that developed from the greater center left faction.
Fofi Gennimata argued that the Olive Tree cannot fulfill PASOK’s role as a “great democratic faction” and stressed that PASOK must focus on developing its own path, in opposition to New Democracy and SYRIZA. Mrs. Gennimata indirectly scrutinized a number of PASOK officers over their involvement with the Olive Tree. Michalis Karhimakis also spoke with harsh words about the Olive Tree, which he dubbed a “delusion” and stressed that as a progressive center left party PASOK cannot carry on cooperating with the Right.
Veteran PASOK officer Kostas Skandalidis offered a compromise and stated that there was room for both PASOK and the Olive Tree, maintaining that divisions may lead to PASOK’s unraveling. Mr. Skandalidis professed that a new drive was needed to help reinvigorate the center left and as in favor of initiating talks to organize a faction-wide open conference.
During the meeting on Monday, it was decided to hold a celebratory conference on the 2nd and 3rd of September, where unionists and local government officers will be welcome to attend, as well as to arrange meetings with social partners to present PASOK’s proposals at this year’s International Fair in Thessaloniki. Additionally, the Institute of Strategic and Growth Studies (ISTAME) will cohost a series of events with the Olive Tree on debt sustainability, national consensus and Greece’s position in Europe.
