Clear Win For Papandreou with 46% of votes counted

According to official results of 46% of votes counted announced by the president of PASOK Constitutive Committee, Mr. Papandreou achieved a great victory gaining 59,70% of votes. Mr. E. Venizelos received 34,02% and Mr. Skandalidis 6,13% of votes. More than 900.00 PASOK friends and members participated in the voting process for the election of a new president in the opposition party. "Your mandate commits me, commits everybody. It is the mandate for a new wining and unified PASOK, for a flow of turnovers, disagreements and changes"

By Anna Kourti
Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105,8
Mr. Papandreou stressed in his announcement made in Harilaou Mr. Papandreou thanked Evangelos Venizelos and Kostas Skandalidis for their participation and contribution to the election process. "We are proud that we cerved a new road" he stated. All politicians are called to follow the example we set. On reference to the internal-party president election processes Mr. Papandreou commented: "We will fulfill the citizens’ expectations." PASOK president also announced that he will proceed to a series of decisions in the following days. Mr. Venizelos and Mr. Skandalidis congratulated Mr. Papandreou for his victory.

"It is a big celebration of Democracy. The procedure is historic for our country and tomorrow we will continue with changes," Mr. Giorgos Papandreou said.

"Today citizens open a new page for the democratic party and PASOK. There are organizational problems for which we are not responsible, Mr. Venizelos said calling on citizens to insist and exercise their voting right.

Third candidate Mr. Costas Skandalidis expressed his optimism that PASOK will remain unified commenting on the electoral procedure that this is the start of the fight against the citizen’s problems.

"I hope the completion of today’s procedure will find PASOK unified", noted former Prime Minister Mr. Costas Simitis.

"The turnout of voting members in the polls for the election of a new leader in PASOK was major" stated PASOK spokesman Giannis Ragousis who estimates that 900.000 people went to the polls. As stated by Mr. Ragousis not only PASOK but democracy too is the winner of the electoral procedure and "we are proud for that". He also mentioned that this procedure was established by Mr. Papandrou initiative which is unprecedented not only for Greece but for Europe too.

12.11.2007