Through the thematic events that have already begun to be organized since last week, PASOK will try to highlight as many aspects of its program as possible in the three weeks remaining before the elections, which Harilaou Trikoupi considers one of the main comparative advantages over rivals.

In the leadership group, the parties do not hide their irritation with the constant resets by the ND. about the possibility of forming a government of losers, in which they put PASOK as a partner. At the same time, there is no shortage of voices within the party indicating that certain decisions are causing delays in the party’s efforts to move forward.

A key issue that seems to be taking hold and doubts about the possibility of a reversal is the significant backlog in the party’s appeal in Attica. In areas such as the old second district of Athens, the rest of Attica, Piraeus, where PASOK undeniably dominated during its omnipotence, it is observed that the party is struggling to restore the thread of re-rapprochement with the voters, the connection with the social and industrial groups that were once its main driving force. The problem has been identified for a long time. Polls show a two-speed PASOK. In the region, he shows a recovery image that is dynamic in many areas, strengthening his interest and presence. However, in the basin the situation is quite different. The question is why, despite the identification of the problem, it persists.

An experienced PASOK member notes that there are two main reasons: the region has much closer relations between voters and candidates, and interpersonal contacts are easier and more effective. In Attica, the dimensions do not allow such an attitude. For deputies elected for years in the basin, an electoral base has been formed, built on the long-term presence and knowledge of the people and the special conditions of each individual region. However, expanding this base and attracting new candidates is not easy. At the same time, the same leader notes, PASOK, in terms of access to the media, is now seen as a smaller party with limited representation of its positions and the reduction in representation in political discussions that this entails. “If we look at the total distribution of television time available for political broadcasts, for political news, for the pre-election period, etc. on television stations, we find that PASOK is about 5% of the pie. In Attica, where the election campaign is conducted primarily through the media, this is taking its toll,” he adds. And in contrast to her, they give pictures from the tour of Mr. Nikos Androulakis in various regions of the country. “If, for example, we see a visit to Trikala last Sunday and a presentation of a program for farmers there, we are talking about a successful presence. For local media, the visit of a political leader remains important news, which is said on the air, will be discussed in the local community in the coming days, the impact is different.” Only last week, during the visits of Mr. Androulakis to Agrinio, Ioannina and Arta, proposals were presented for small and medium-sized enterprises, for education, for industrial reconstruction. “There, on the ground, all this will be discussed, and we see that it has an impact. The question is how to transfer this discussion to Attica, where political discussions in the media are conducted on different conditions and it is not easy to get to the personal level with citizens.

On the periphery, interpersonal contact is easier and more effective, unlike in the capital, where the size does not allow such relationships.

There is acute concern in the leadership echelons of the party about whether the image can be changed in the short time left before the elections. However, with the help of targeted activities that will be addressed to a special audience (youth, unemployed, pensioners, medical workers, etc.), they will strive to represent the position of the party as much as possible.

Under these conditions, party officials are expressing concern about the possible negative impact of the Georgoulis case on PASOK. As they say, for more than a week the party played almost a single issue on the complaint of Eleni Chronopoulou, while, entering the official pre-election phase, it had to discuss its proposals, positions, program, developing its criticism of N.D. and SYRIZA. “We have defended Ms. Chronopula well, but we may have become bogged down in a one-issue agenda that has taken us back,” comments a concerned executive. And he adds: “We discussed the issue of a complaint going against the position of SYRIZA and at the same time ND. took the opportunity to discuss the issue of a government of misfits, involving PASOK in it, despite the fact that we have already made clear long ago that we will never join the same scheme as Mr. Varoufakis and those who played with the drachma and destiny countries”.

In fact, there are many who believe that PASOK, after the wiretapping case for the second time in several months, moved with a clear agenda, changing its campaign plan.

A number of party officials are concerned that they say the case could generate a wave of sympathy among the electorate, but it is doubtful that this sympathy will translate into voices.