PASOK awaits the next day

The memorandum and the budget were passed, but PASOK does not yet feel that the next day has dawned. According to Evangelos Venizelos’ staff, this will happen when the picture for the next tranche and the final decisions of the partners for the sustainability of the Greek debt have cleared. Until then they say they are not in a hurry to make any decisions or moves.

 

The PASOK president has forbidden his colleagues to engage in discussions about a reshuffle or internal party matters. Yannis Datseris violated this order, was booed and then resigned. The national organizing committee of the conference will be announced in the coming days and there might also be a parliamentary group meeting.

 

After the two votes in parliament, the situation in PASOK leaves no room for complacency. Andreas Loverdos will continue to exert pressure, questioning Venizelos' choices. For now, however, PASOK members feel safe, as Michalis Chrysochoidis does not seem willing to follow and Yorgos Papandreou moves within party lines.

 

Regarding those expelled from the party, PASOK insists that Parastatidis and Koutsoukos should return their seats because they were stryck off and re-admitted to the ballots under special conditions which they had accepted. Venizelos’ colleagues point out with satisfaction the "yes" vote on the budget by Kostas Skandalidis, although they characterize his attitude as "contradictory."

 

The question that remains unanswered is what role PASOK will choose in the government and the negotiation for a final settlement of the debt, that is as long as Greece’s partners will disburse the tranche first. These developments will judge whether Venizelos will enter the government himself or send political members to replace the technocrats he had originally proposed.

 

For now, the only thing that does not occur to PASOK members is the potential disbursement delay by our partners. They know that in this case no planning will make any sense, as the social unrest will cause political developments and elections.