ATHENS – Now facing five challengers to his embattled leadership, PASOK-KINAL leader Nikos Androulakis stood by his record since taking over in 2021 – despite being unable to resurrect the party’s fortunes, and his setting elections for October.

He told Mega TV that, “I took over PASOK when it was at approximately 8 percent, today it is at 13 percent,” considering that an accomplishment although the Socialists finished third in European Parliament elections.

That disappointing showing set off a chain of reaction from within the party that he had failed to bring it past the major opposition SYRIZA although both are far behind New Democracy, which also lagged in the EU elections.

Androulakis also pointed to his reopening of local chapters and victories at municipal elections. “PASOK has changed track step by step,” he said and that it had increased its share in the EU elections from four years earlier.

After there was disgruntlement over that – and his warning he would eject dissidents earlier – he called for the elections and that brought a flurry of challenges from within the party, setting up a free-for-all.

“As President I had to deal with this matter immediately,” said Androulakis, adding that he called the election “to close this chapter with unity and prospects,” although the party was in disarray.

Despite open grumbling he said he hadn’t heard any criticism of his positions and proposals from the other candidates, including new Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, who said he had a vision for the country but didn’t reveal it.

Other candidates are  former culture minister Pavlos Geroulanos and Members of Parliament Milena Apostolaki, Michalis Katrinis, and now Nadia Giannakopoulou, who just jumped in.

Giannakopoulou, a 46-year-old lawyer, said she wanted to bring “a new change … with a different model of governance,” but didn’t explain what it was, how it would work or what it would do.

“There are no one-way streets. (We aim) to radically change our party so we can change the country, presenting clear and distinct proposals to improve people’s lives,” she said, without giving any.

The election is scheduled for October 6, with a second round set for October 13 if no candidate gains a majority of votes in the first round to win outright, Androulakis having to deal with his intra-party rivals in the meantime.