Independent MPs who supported the presidential candidacy of Stavros Dimas may find “political shelter” at New Democracy, with Mika Iatridi being the first to formally return as a party candidate in the Dodecanese, following a brief spell with the Independent Greeks.
Other independent MPs that are set to be included in New Democracy’s ballots include Giorgos Davris in Arta, Kostas Giovanopoulos in Imathia and Giorgos Kasapidis in Kozani. Mr. Kasapidis had been expelled from the party in 2012 after voting against a critical bill in November 2012 and had sporadically been approached to return.
Meanwhile, a number of veteran New Democracy officers have declared their intention to abstain from the upcoming vote. Amongst them are the former government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros and former Minister of Interior Prokopis Pavlopoulos. When asked about his decision, Mr. Pavlopoulos paraphrased Melina Merkouri saying that “we are not liked”.
