PASOK – Movement for Change

PASOK – Movement for Change. It is a centre-left political party in Greece, formed in 2018 through the merger of the historic Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) and the Democratic Alignment. The party positions itself as a modern social democratic and progressive force, advocating for social justice, European integration, and political renewal within the Hellenic Parliament. It is a member of the Party of European Socialists and its MEPs sit with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group in the European Parliament.

History

The party was established in 2018 under the leadership of Fofi Gennimata, who served as president of the former PASOK. This merger aimed to consolidate the fragmented centre-left space in Greece following the electoral decline of PASOK after the Greek government-debt crisis and the rise of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA). The new formation sought to reclaim its political ground as a credible alternative to both SYRIZA and the New Democracy party. Following Gennimata's death in 2021, Nikos Androulakis was elected president in a 2021 leadership election, defeating Andreas Loverdos and George Papandreou, the former Prime Minister of Greece. Under Androulakis, the party has participated in key national elections, including the 2023 elections, and entered into a coalition government with New Democracy following the June 2023 Greek legislative election.

Ideology and political positions

The party's ideology is rooted in modern social democracy and progressivism, emphasizing a strong welfare state, environmental protection, and human rights. It is a staunch supporter of European integration and the European Union, advocating for deeper cooperation within the Eurozone and reforms to strengthen European solidarity. On economic policy, it supports a mixed economy with robust social policies aimed at reducing inequality and supporting public healthcare and public education. In foreign policy, it maintains a pro-NATO stance while promoting diplomacy and multilateralism, and it strongly supports the Accession of North Macedonia to the European Union following the Prespa Agreement. The party also champions secularism and the separation of church and state in Greece.

Electoral performance

The party first contested the 2019 European elections, winning 7.7% of the vote and securing two seats in the European Parliament. In the 2019 Greek legislative election, it received 8.1% of the vote, entering the Hellenic Parliament with 22 seats. Its performance improved in the May 2023 Greek legislative election, garnering 11.5% and 41 seats, and further in the June 2023 Greek legislative election, where it won 11.8% and secured 32 seats, becoming the third-largest party. This result led to its participation in a coalition government with Kyriakos Mitsotakis's New Democracy. The party's strongholds include traditional PASOK areas such as Crete, the Peloponnese, and Western Greece.

Leadership

The founding president was Fofi Gennimata, who led the party from its inception until her death in October 2021. The current president, elected in December 2021, is Nikos Androulakis, a former Member of the European Parliament. Other prominent figures include vice-president Nadia Giannakopoulou and secretary Dionysis Teboneras. Former leaders of the constituent parties, such as George Papandreou and Evangelos Venizelos, remain influential figures within the broader party network. The leadership is elected through party congresses and is responsible for setting strategic direction and candidate selection for national and European Parliament elections.

Organization and structure

The party's headquarters are located on Charilaou Trikoupi Street in Athens. Its supreme body is the Party Congress, which convenes every four years to elect the president and the Central Political Committee. Day-to-day operations are managed by the Executive Bureau and the Political Secretariat. The party maintains a youth wing, Youth of PASOK – Movement for Change, and a women's organization, Women of PASOK – Movement for Change. It is organized into regional and local branches across Greece, including in major cities like Thessaloniki, Patras, and Heraklion. The party publishes the newspaper Avgi and maintains a significant presence in Greek media.