The background and the next moves by Venizelos and Loverdos

 

Their breakup sheds light om the background as well. Andreas Loverdos proceeded to the establishment of his own political movement, heeding his interlocutors who said that PASOK has no future and that he would gain nothing by going after its leadership. So he took the first step, hoping to gain the advantage in the processes for the reconstruction of the Center-Left.

 

Evangelos Venizelos expelled him, realising that if his former partner were to stay in the party, the wear and tear for PASOK would have been greater. He was pressed by some MPs who wish to revitalize the movement so that after his presidency the party will pass on to them. Within his own environment, however, Yannis Datseris proposed Loverdos’ expulsion to "clear up the landscape and for PASOK to gain hopes of recovery."

 

The interest now focuses on to the next moves of the two politicians. PASOK is waiting to see if MPs and members of the party will follow the former minister in his venture. Yannis Maniatis "scanned" the parliamentary group yesterday and the only "suspect" pointed out is Christos Aidonis. Andreas Loverdos shows no hurry to turn the movement into a party. He prefers to wait for political developments, since he has already made his move.

 

So, what’s important now is what the rest of the PASOK dissidents will do. Anna Diamantopoulou said yesterday that she is staying with the party and Kostas Skandalidis expects an overture by its leadership, while Michalis Chrysochoidis avoided making even the slightest comment.

 

All this is happening in PASOK with the government in the background. Yesterday both politicians, Venizelos and Loverdos, took care to clarify they support it. PASOK’s parliamentary force has changed but the parliamentary majority of the government remains the same.