Interim New Democracy president Vangelis Meimarakis stepped down in order to maintain party unity and lower the tone after Sunday’s botched election for party leader.
A further move on behalf of Meimarakis was to abstain from the ND parliamentary group meeting. Yiannis Plakiotakis, who was appointed interim party chief by Meimarakis, received wide applause presiding the meeting. Plakiotakis suggested keeping spirits calm before the election.
Nevertheless, the atmosphere of the meeting was heavy, with lawmakers divided in camps according to the candidate they support. However, in their speeches they stressed the importance of unity and avoided the arguments of the last few days.
A number of MPs suggested the establishment of a five-member committee of lawmakers to work along with the electoral committee in order to secure the success of the election that is aimed to take place on December 13, at the latest. The election committee will decide the procedural details on Thursday.
“We are moving on together. We send a loud message that New Democracy is united and the parliamentary group is the guarantor of the party unity,” Plakiotakis told reporters.
At the same time, New Democracy MP Dora Bakogianni spoke on Mega television on Tuesday hinting that the election fiasco was in fact a sabotage act.
Head of the electoral committee Andreas Papamimikos resigned as a gesture to lower tension.
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