The provisional president of New Democracy Evangelos Meimarakis appears to have decided to call elections for a new party president, aiming for a vote by the 30th of August.
Although a number of prominent party members are in favor of the leadership change taking place sooner rather than later, there is a number of MPs and party officers who want to delay the election. As such, Friday’s political committee meeting may be decisive, as it will give the opportunity for arguments from both sides to be put forward.
The debate for a leadership change is a part of a greater discussion regarding the political and ideological characteristics of the party, following the departure of Antonis Samaras from New Democracy’s helm.
Mr. Meimarakis has favored a moderate approach, in an effort to engage with centrists and voters from other parties and is supported by ND officers such as Evripidis Stylianidis and Nikos Dendias. On the other hand, ND members such as Makis Voridis and Adonis Georgiadis, who rose to prominence under Antonis Samaras, favor the party taking a decisive step to the right.
