NGO case ignites bitter infighting in PASOK
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
Government vice president and foreign minister Evangelos Venizelos called upon to comment on the recent NGO scandal, commented that it would be sad if foreign ministry staff were implicated.
Mr Venizelos, speaking on the sideline of his meetings in Belgrade, stressed that if proven the legal ramifications should be applied and they should be dismissed. Asked if there were political responsibilities involved, Mr Venizelos said that objectively, there are always responsibilities, and that he personally had never ordered any subordinate to sign anything.
The statements from Mr Venizelos come in the wake of judicial accusations against NGO “International Mining Initiative” that implicated, among others Alex Rondos, a close aide to former PM George Papandreou, and the person responsible for overseeing the activities of the specific NGO.
Meanwhile, a statement from the office of George Papandreou noted that under his ministry at foreign affairs, there was real progress in setting up guidelines for NGO funding, and that in fact the primary surplus,which the current government boasts is its achievement, was in fact established when Mr Papandreou was PM, in 2010-2011.
The statements are interpreted by many as indicative of the political climate within governing coalition partner PASOK, which is fraught with division. The group around the current party president was more than happy to snipe against the so-called Papandreou group, however, it's now becoming clear that the whole party is being besmirched by these tactics.
The former PM's “court” has been seen by long time PASOK cadres as outsiders brought in by George Papandreou that rode on his coattails to power within the party, persons that have no deep roots or ties within PASOK. One such person is Alex Rondos, whose role as a close aide to the former PM has been keynote in recent articles.
The infighting has escalated as the “debate” for the future of the Center-Left is still on, but without any real solutions being found, as relations with the “movement of 58” have been floundering and all bridges with the Democratic Left have been burned.
At present the fact that former associates of Mr Papandreou are turning their eyes to the left of PASOK fills the current party leadership with dread, as it has already seen its ranks thinning precariously. Perhaps to stem any further losses, Mr Venizelos wouldn't mind tearing down the edifice built by George Papandreou, the question is, can he afford it?
