Former PM George Papandreou joins race for KINAL leadership

George Papandreou, who as Greek prime minister applied for the country’s first bailout program in 2010, is now trying to return to the center of the country’s political stage a decade after stepping down as premier by running as a candidate to lead the Movement of Change party.

“We need a new change. For the citizens and the country,” Papandreou said in a televised statement Wednesday when he announced his candidacy for the leadership of the party. “I will contribute with all my powers to make our party big and strong again,” he added. 

Papandreou ruled Greece from October 2009 until November 2011 when he stepped down and supported the coalition government of Lucas Papademos.

Until 2012, he remained president of the socialist Pasok party, which was founded by his father and former prime minister Andreas. In 2017, Pasok joined the center-left alliance Movement of Change.

Before his announcement he had briefed on his decision the current leader Fofi Gennimata who has pulled out of the leadership elections scheduled in December, due to health reasons.

With Papandreou joining the KINAL leadership race, the number of candidates has now risen to seven.

The other candidates are: Pavlos Geroulanos, Pavlos Christides, Haris Kastanidis, Andreas Loverdos, Nikos Androulakis and Vassilis Kegeroglou.