The conflict between Papandreou and Venizelos

By Kostas Tsitounas - Vassilis Vassilopoulos

The conflict is inevitable. No one can predict the exact timing, although many believe that it will happen in a very short time.

The key - phrase of G. Papandreou to Venizelos during their meeting, is indicative of the intentions of the former prime minister.

"Vangelis, you know my objections" was the answer of GAP when Venizelos tried to "advertise" the DIPAR.

Newsbomb.gr presents the plans and aspirations of the two "camps", in detail.

George Papandreou is ready for all

The context in which many executives agree, (who either are loyal fans, or occasional allies of George Papandreou against Venizelos), is the destruction of all bridges with the government of memorandum and the formation of a cooperation with SYRIZA.

Many of them believe that Mr. Papandreou should not refer on how well the Memorandum was executed, but to how the program of support was turned into a violent redistribution program of the wealth, with the responsibility of creditors and their collaborators, Venizelos and Samaras, after the summer of 2011.

These policies must be overturned and to be denounced as they say, and they are ready to welcome GAP as a guarantor of the next day.

Obviously no one looks forward to the return of former Prime Minister and President of PASOK, although want the incumbent president to leave.

Two groups (and probably many more) are found on the occasion of the "Papandreou statement". Those who are referring to the program and are seeking to keeping up with SYRIZA but without become its followers and the traditional who want the rematch. Only that the first group do not want the second if they are connected with the coalition in any way.

George Panagiotakopoulos is always on the side of GAP even in recent meetings with officials and particularly with Kastanidis and Diamantopoulou.

Michalis Karchimakis, due to his skills has the role of the organizing secretariat. Regina Vartzeli and Dimitris Reppas, had never stopped to chat with him. Miltiadis Papaioannou and Philip Petsalnikos move silently, while Dina Lazaris is among the more militant members.

Venizelos remains an enemy, for all. They think that he is finished now. That goes for Kostas Skandalidis, since they appreciate that he was settled down, with the help of Venizelos. The paradox is that the followers of Venizelos charge him that he lured the current president of PASOK in the meeting with the former president, with the known results. "He gave him value and these are the results", they say.

At this meeting, GAP merely recalled the objections that he had expressed on March for ELIA, with a public notice which was almost identical to the recent. Perhaps this is the context of a cruel announcement, which the Papandreou office is preparing, for the leaks of the associates of Evangelos Venizelos.

Until now, however, the return of GAP is not accompanied by anything except by the knowledge that the notice of a conference of PASOK and not DIPAR would calm things and would not cause trouble in their coalition government, with the occasion of the presidential election. As they say, "now, everything is synchronized with the election of President of the Republic".

About the detractors of the "rebels", on the proposal of cooperation with SYRIZA, someone can heard two comparative phrases:

1) PASOK in 1981 was not better than SYRIZA and therefore should be supported its character and

2) if you consider that the Lafazanis is a problem, then how can you tolerate Adonis with Voridis and Plevris as rulers?.

In the youth members, the "uprising" is still immature. Many of them were thrilled with the governance of GAP and are seeking for a repetition and others have not yet formed a solid political terms, since they admire words such as "reforms" but its implementation has disband the state, education and health. Here is the responsibility of the leader, say the elders, but who feel proud of the "young".

Most importantly, at this juncture, is that one part listens to the other. The documentation that the move of GAP is not confrontational with SYRIZA is confirmed by the invitations of Antonis Kotsakas, on the behest of Alexis Tsipras, for the supplement of the names in the ballots.

* it is worth noting that the followers of GAP are rather more reconciled than the followers of SYRIZA, with the idea that Lafazanis may become a minister!!!

Venizelos' block "sees" conspiracy theories

"The man has a single goal: to bring down the government", say the executives close to Venizelos for Papandreou, while being absolutely sure that in one way or another GAP will finally attempt the rupture.

In off the record discussions, say that Papandreou "proceeds in such disruptive movements, operating from foreign centers of power ", suggesting that he "has secret connections with American factors and with the IMF."

Others within the party argue that he is "playing the game of SYRIZA and he is not concerned for the fate of PASOK".

At the same time they consider that none of the current members will follow him into a political engagement movement of the 180. "Whoever does this, he will be automatically be qualified as maverick" say the executives of Trikoupi, while they are warning that he will be expelled from the party.

Of course this contrasts with the period of 2007, when the excessive ambition of Venizelos and his spasmodic transition in Zappeio, automatically turned GAP into a hero.

Finally, on in private conversations with reporters, executives close to Venizelos, speak about "gardeners" who "GAP drags with him for years and who are "burnt" in the political consciousness of the people."