A renewal of democratic roots?
by Tom Bentley
The new leader of the Greek PASOK party, George Papandreou, has set out to create a political vision based on active citizenship and participation. He is an intriguing figure - son and grandson of past Greek Prime Ministers, and therefore a member of a very traditional dynasty, but nonetheless a striking break with the style and preoccupations of Greek national politics. Greece holds national elections on March 7th - at the moment the conservative New Democracy party lead in the polls. So Papandreou may find himself an opposition leader facing a task of party and policy renewal after 20 years of PASHOK government, or if he can find a late surge he may just become a Prime Minister seeking to renew while in office. Demos has been working with the Papandreou team through partnership with our sister organisation Demos Athens. Read a profile of George Papandreou here.