Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-09-18

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Leadership issue arises in PASOK

[01] Leadership issue arises in PASOK

Meanwhile, Venizelos on Tuesday said he wanted the party to be "rebuilt", its links to Greek society restored and for it to once again form a "majority movement". Having widely indicated since late Sunday evening that he intends to challenge Papandreou for the party's leadership after PASOK's election defeat, Venizelos also denied that he was just after the party's leadership, stressing that his goal was for the party to become "unified, solid and optimistic".

"I do not seek a position occupied by Mr. Papandreou. Both of us, as comrades, jointly, are fighting for the good of the party. We, therefore, want to use this opportunity to once again become close with the people, to bring society into PASOK and to put PASOK back in society," Venizelos said.

He also claimed that the present majority enjoyed by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and the re-elected New Democracy party was "false, artificial and still-born".

Venizelos said he backed calls for a party election for the PASOK's leadership as soon as possible, following a meeting of PASOK's national council.

Replying to speculation that PASOK's leadership may have been "undermined from within", Venizelos stressed that this was something that remained to be judged: "Who has contributed to the standing and clearness of PASOK, and who has, unwittingly, reduced its appeal is an issue we will judge," Venizelos said, adding that Papandreou "fought with all his strength" for victory.

Caption: An undated photo shows an external view of main opposition PASOK party's downtown Athens headquarters. ANA-MPA / STR

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