Nearly 60 Potami officials question Theodorakis’s leadership

A total of 59 To Potami officials have issued a statement questioning the leadership of Stavros Theodorakis following his decision to run for the top post of Greece’s new center-left party – an alliance of existing forces including once-dominant PASOK socialists.

In their statement Monday, the officials denounce Sunday’s election as an attempt “to recycle the old political system” and accuse Theodorakis of turning his back on Potami’s founding principles.

They also call for a conference with the aim of restoring the party’s autonomy and eventually turning it into a “modern, progressive, liberal, reformist” force.

On Sunday, Theodorakis won under 10 percent of the vote as PASOK chief Fofi Gennimata came first garnering nearly 43 percent. Gennimata will face Nikos Androulakis, an MEP and former PASOK secretary, in a runoff next Sunday.