Haris Doukas is openly distancing himself from the official line of the PASOK leadership, pressing ahead with his call to open channels of dialogue and cooperation with Alexis Tsipras’ party, ELAS. The move sends a pointed message both within the party and directly to PASOK president Nikos Androulakis, making clear that the only real political opponent is New Democracy and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The stance is generating internal friction, as Androulakis has consistently rejected any prospect of convergence with Tsipras, maintaining an openly hostile posture toward him. Tsipras’ camp, by contrast, has from the outset championed the reconstruction of a broad progressive front, calling through ELAS for a coalition of all center-left forces — an appeal that appears to be resonating with parts of the electorate.
Doukas Warns Against Fragmentation
Speaking on the MEGA Weekend program, Doukas was unambiguous: dialogue between the two progressive poles must not be ruled out under any circumstances. He warned that the fragmentation of opposition forces would benefit New Democracy directly.
As he put it, the real adversary is New Democracy, and excluding dialogue only muddies the message of political change — leaving voters confused and handing Mitsotakis an unexpected gift.
When asked about the possibility of a joint ticket at the next election, Doukas declined to rule it out. While acknowledging the PASOK congress decision to pursue an autonomous course, he was quick to add that autonomy should not mean isolation, entrenchment, or the exclusion of other political forces. On the contrary, he argued, if the combined polling numbers of the two parties could create the conditions for a change of government, then discussion about their respective platforms, common ground, and points of disagreement is not just justified — it is necessary.
Pointed Criticism of Diamantopoulou
Doukas also took visible aim at Anna Diamantopoulou, in reference to a recent statement she made suggesting that opposition to New Democracy should be strictly confined to the period before election day. Doukas pushed back, saying such positions do not align with the party’s collective decisions, and reaffirming that New Democracy is the only adversary both before and after the polls — a fact that demands clear dividing lines.
According to Doukas, PASOK must send an unambiguous message and speak directly to the 70% of citizens who, based on available data, want political change. The remaining 25-30%, he argued, will gravitate toward the governing party regardless. The party’s strategy, therefore, must focus on rallying the broad majority that wants to remove the current government — without exclusions, but with an unwavering focus on that objective.
