Mayor of Athens and PASOK executive Haris Doukas told a public event in the Athens district of Kypseli that the past coalition government between New Democracy, PASOK, and the right-wing LAOS party was a mistake that must never be repeated.
Speaking at a forum on the black wave of the far right, Doukas said the three-party coalition had legitimized far-right policies and specific individuals, turning them into a normal political occurrence. He added that political leaders must not break the barrier against far-right influence in government.
During the meeting in Kypseli, Doukas outlined his positions on counteracting far-right politics and exchanged views with New Left leader Alexis Haritsis and several prominent academics.
PASOK policy on future political alliances
Doukas noted that he had previously proposed a formal resolution at the PASOK party congress last March to rule out any post-election governance agreement with the ruling New Democracy party.
His motion for a categorical rejection of post-election cooperation with New Democracy was accepted by the party conference and remains supported by the PASOK leadership and party officials.
Dialogue with progressive political forces
Alongside his opposition to cooperation with the political right, Doukas has made multiple public interventions advocating for open dialogue among progressive political forces, including the party of former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
PASOK, formally known as the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, is one of the principal political parties in Greece. Doukas, a university professor who was elected mayor of the Greek capital, has emerged as a prominent voice within the party advocating for clear boundaries between center-left social democrats and conservative or right-wing formations.
Background on the 2011 coalition government
The coalition referenced by Doukas took office in November 2011 during the height of the Greek financial crisis. The administration brought together the conservative New Democracy party, the center-left PASOK, and the nationalist Popular Orthodox Rally, known as LAOS.
The inclusion of LAOS marked the first time since the restoration of democracy in Greece in 1974 that members of a far-right nationalist party were appointed to ministerial posts in a Greek government. That cabinet decision triggered lasting debate within PASOK over the boundaries of cross-party cooperation during national crises.
