New dynamics have emerged in the race for the leadership of Greece's socialist Pasok party following Milena Apostolakis' withdrawal from the contest.
Just 23 days after announcing her candidacy alongside Nikos Androulakis, Pavlos Geroulanos, and Haris Doukas, the MP declared she would no longer be running.
Ms. Apostolakis said that she had not originally intended to vye for the leadership, but when Mr. Androulakis himself accepted the challenge, she felt compelled to enter the race to add a political dimension to the process.
During her campaign, she expressed confidence in her ability to serve as prime minister, stating, "I feel ready for such a position, and this is not an arrogant sentiment of 'I can do it better.'"
Before releasing a statement to the media, Ms. Apostolakis hosted a gathering in the northern suburbs, her electoral district, with hundreds of supporters who had worked tirelessly and collected around 4,700 signatures for her candidacy (out of the 5,000 required). She informed them of her decision, eliciting mixed reactions: some applauded, while others disagreed. However, all shared a common question: "Who do we support now?"
In response, Ms. Apostolakis advised her supporters to back whomever they felt was the best choice, emphasising that their judgement was paramount. She did not endorse any specific candidate but assured her supporters that she would do everything in her power “to ensure that Pasok does not emerge damaged on October 14."
While she has a personal preference, she plans to keep it private until the election.
Why did Ms. Apostolakis withdraw from the race so early?
Many observers had predicted that few candidates would ultimately stay in the race, especially after Anna Diamantopoulou entered the fray.
Initially, Ms. Apostolakis stressed the need for a female candidate, but as the field grew with the additions of Nadia Giannakopoulou and Anna Diamantopoulou, her polling numbers did not meet her expectations.
Ms. Apostolakis cited growing concerns over "personal conflicts that could jeopardize the party's cohesion," stating she would oppose any developments that could lead to such a scenario.
"I want to be part of the solution, not the problem. That's why I decided not to run," she said."On October 14, Pasok must not come out wounded. I will fight with all my might to ensure this." Her main concern, she confided to associates, lies in the increasingly contentious atmosphere within the party.
By Angelos Moschovas