PASOK leader emphatically re-elected

By Constantine Capsaskis

Newsletter Editor

Welcome to the weekly round-up of news by Kathimerini English Edition. Incumbent PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis has won a significant victory over challenger Harris Doukas, Mayor of Athens, in the run-off vote in the party’s leadership contest.

Androulakis, who also finished ahead of his fellow candidates in last week’s first round, has received approximately 60% of the total vote, compared to Doukas’ 40%.  

“I want to thank the thousands of ordinary PASOK supporters who fought through the toughest years in every corner of our country. Today, we look to the future with optimism,” Androulakis stated earlier in the day when casting his own vote, adding, “The hard times are behind us, and the best lies ahead.”

However, there were also far fewer voters going to the polls this week, with just 214,000 people participating in the process compared to more than 300,000 just a week ago.

Doukas conceded the race when the first few results began to trickle in, and the magnitude of Androulakis’ victory was becoming apparent, and called the re-elected party leader to congratulate him. Both camps are keen to stress the importance of unity within the party going forward. This mirrors statements made by the other candidates in the first round, including Pavlos Geroulanos and Anna Diamantopoulou.

“I will continue to work for our principles and values , with unity and the participation of all, for a large and powerful PASOK that can win”, emphasized Doukas in his concession speech.

With the leadership election in the rearview mirror, and with SYRIZA continuing to disintegrate, it remains to be seen if PASOK, and Nikos Androulakis in particular, will be able to capitalize and reemerge as the leading party on ruling New Democracy’s left.

Spotlight

• Ahead of a planned meeting between the Greek and Turkish foreign ministers, Turkey has reiterated that it has not moved away from what Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan referred to as the country’s “holistic approach to the Aegean”. Essentially, Turkey wants to include questions of sovereignty over Greece’s islands and their complete demilitarization as part of any negotiation or referral to the International Court of Justice, something Athens has made clear it absolutely rejects. Greece stands firm that the only thing that is up for negotiation is the delimitation of the continental shelves and Exclusive Economic Zones. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also attended the European Union MED 9 Summit held in Paphos, where the leaders of the nine EU Mediterranean states called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East and the resolution of the ongoing Turkish occupation of Cyprus on the basis of the United Nations resolutions of a bizonal, bicommunal federal state.

• Greece’s sports community is in mourning after 31-year-old Panathinaikos defender George Baldock was found dead at his home in Athens this week, with the post-mortem examination finding that he had drowned while swimming in a pool. British-born Baldock, who represented Greece at the international level (obtaining Greek citizenship through his grandmother), was best known for his time in the Premier League with Sheffield United. Just a day after the news broke, Greece played England at Wembley for the Nations League, in an emotionally charged game. Following a minute of silence in memory of Baldock, Greece defeated England for the first time in its history (2-1), with players dedicating the victory to the Greek international. “We gave our soul for him tonight. Today is not a day to talk about football. He was part of our team. We will miss him very much,” said Greece’s double goal scorer Vangelis Pavlidis.

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OPINION

Reimagine tourism in Greece

By Tom Ellis

Editor-in-Chief, Kathimerini English Edition

As most Greeks, of all ideological persuasions, agree that tourism is our national industry, it is only natural that we should do everything we can to protect and improve it.

As the issue of over-tourism has become more and more intense in the last few years, Kathimerini has taken the initiative to try to forge a roadmap for the future.

Many aspects of the way our tourism industry has developed in the past have to change. Improving the Greek paradigm, making it more solid through responsible practices, should be a national goal.

It is in that context that this week Kathimerini will organize another “reimagine tourism” summit.

The aim is to have a modern tourism industry that benefits Greek society as a whole, while safeguarding our traditions and cultural treasures, and at the same time protecting the environment and the country’s natural beauty.

In that effort we aim at being the intellectual cornerstone of a healthy debate and exchange of ideas.

Many share our hopes and aspirations, as well as our concerns.

If we do it right, all will benefit; both private businesses, local economies, and at the end of the day, the country as a whole.

Our aim is none other than to contribute to the creation of an ecosystem that facilitates innovation and encourages the implementation of best practices, and in doing so, helps to reshape Greek tourism with an eye to a sustainable future.

CHART OF THE WEEK

Mirroring global trends, it is becoming more evident in the Greek labor market that prospective employees also value factors beyond just their monetary compensation. They include flexible working hours, the ability to work from home, and a clear path for advancement. Many Greek companies have begun adjusting to this new reality, squeezed by a dearth of talent and thousands of vacancies. Additionally, a company’s reputation is also an important factor in attracting new employees. This is also clear with many of those who have left their jobs, with dissatisfaction with their former job’s management steadily increasing. In fact, Dr Ioannis Nikolaou, Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Director of the MSc in Human Resources Management at Athens University of Economics and Business, notes that bad management in Greek companies is proving to be a lasting blight.

 ESCAPADE

Weekend escape to Koukouli: Nature, history, and adventure in Zagori

The countryside of Epirus offers quiet cobbled alleys, stone mansions, stunning bridges, and a variety of fascinating activities.

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ECONOMY IN A NUTSHELL

1. “The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 1,416.79 points on Friday, down 1.47% from last week.”
2. “Industrial output over the first eight months of the year saw an increase of 6.7% according to the General Index of Industrial Production of the Hellenic Statistical Authority. At the same time, the Parliamentary Budget Office noted that manufacturing now contributes up to 10.4% of the country’s GDP (record in Q2 of 2024).”
3. “The composition of the Board of Directors of Athens-listed companies continues to display signs of significant concentration of responsibilities and positions in single persons. Additionally, in at least 44% of companies, at least two board members are related to the main shareholder.”

WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA

14/10/2024

Athens traffic measures: Measures regulating traffic in central Athens, known as the ‘Daktylios’, will come into effect once more on Monday.

15/10/2024

Reimagine Tourism in Greece: Kathimerini and its partners will host the second annual summit to empower sustainable tourism in Greece at the Athens International Airport, in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

17/10/2024

Panhellenic Hospital Strike: The union representing hospital doctors has announced its intention to organize a strike on Wednesday. Among other demands, the union seeks salary increases, more permanent hirings, and better conditions.

PODCAST

A chance to rekindle Cyprus talks?

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to hold talks with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in New York next week, the latest push to kickstart stalled talks for a solution to the Cyprus problem. The talks come as Tatar and Turkish President Erdogan have been doubling down on their calls for a two-state solution, with Erdogan even calling for recognition of the pseudo-state at the UN General Assembly. Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the government spokesperson of the Republic of Cyprus, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss these upcoming talks, Turkey’s intransigent positions, and how Cyprus’ growing role in the region impacts negotiations.

Listen to the episode >