The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) was once the dominant political party in Greece, but in recent years, the party has faced a difficult time with internal conflicts and leadership struggles.

The most significant rift in the party occurred when two key figures, George Dromocaitio and Dora Bakoyannis, went their separate ways.

Who is George Dromocaitio?

George Dromocaitio is a long-time member of the PASOK party. He served in the Greek Parliament from 1993 to 2000 and then again from 2004 to 2012.

He was also a member of the European Parliament from 2000 to 2004, during which time he served on the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.

Dromocaitio has been a prominent voice within the PASOK party for many years. He is known for his left-leaning views and has often spoken out against austerity measures and cuts to public spending.

Despite his relatively low profile outside of Greece, Dromocaitio is a significant player within the PASOK party, and his departure is a significant loss.

Who is Dora Bakoyannis?

Dora Bakoyannis is a former mayor of Athens and a prominent member of the New Democracy party. She was forced to resign as mayor in 2010 after a deal to bring the Olympic Games to Athens in 2004 left the city with billions of euros in debt.

Bakoyannis later joined the PASOK party and became a member of the Greek Parliament in 2012.

Bakoyannis is a moderate voice within the PASOK party and is considered to be a potentially powerful bridge between the party and other centrist parties.

However, her association with the scandal-ridden New Democracy party has made her a divisive figure within PASOK.

Why did they go their separate ways?

Dromocaitio and Bakoyannis went their separate ways due to a fundamental disagreement over the direction of the PASOK party.

While the party has traditionally been a left-leaning force in Greek politics, the global financial crisis and the subsequent economic turmoil in Greece forced the party to move towards austerity-minded policies.

Dromocaitio was a strong opponent of these policies and argued that they were causing unnecessary suffering for ordinary Greeks.

Bakoyannis, on the other hand, supported the measures and believed that they were necessary to secure Greece’s future within the European Union.

Their disagreement came to a head in 2015 when the party was forced to hold a leadership contest. Dromocaitio ran against the incumbent leader, Evangelos Venizelos, who had been a strong supporter of the austerity measures.

Bakoyannis supported Venizelos, and when he won the contest, Dromocaitio left the party.

What does this mean for PASOK?

The split between Dromocaitio and Bakoyannis is a significant blow to the PASOK party. Dromocaitio was a prominent member of the party, and his departure has left many Pasokites feeling disillusioned and disheartened.

His departure also leaves the party without a clear ideological direction, as the left-leaning faction has lost its most vocal supporter.

Despite these challenges, the PASOK party is still a significant force in Greek politics.

The party has a long history of pushing for social and economic justice, and many Greeks still see it as a legitimate alternative to the more centrist New Democracy party. However, without strong leadership and a clear ideological direction, the future of the party remains uncertain.

What’s next for Dromocaitio and Bakoyannis?

Following his departure from PASOK, Dromocaitio formed a new party called the “Movement for Social Democracy.” The party aims to bring together left-leaning Greeks who are disillusioned with the direction of the PASOK party.

Dromocaitio has been vocal in his criticism of the austerity measures imposed by the European Union and has argued that the Greek government needs to do more to help ordinary citizens.

Bakoyannis, on the other hand, has returned to the New Democracy party. She has been vocal in her support of centrist policies and has argued that Greece needs to take a more pragmatic approach to its economic problems.

While Bakoyannis’ return to New Democracy is significant, it is unclear how much influence she will have within the party.

Conclusion

The split between Dromocaitio and Bakoyannis is a significant event in Greek politics.

The PASOK party has traditionally been the dominant force in Greek left-wing politics, and Dromocaitio’s departure has left many Pasokites feeling lost and disheartened. Nevertheless, the future of the party remains uncertain, and it is unclear what role it will play in Greek politics in the years to come.