New Democracy, Greece's governing conservative party, is working to finalize the candidate lists for the country's next parliamentary election, even though the vote remains months away. Officials at the party's headquarters on Piraeus Street already have a clear picture of which figures are willing to run for a seat.
Dozens of candidates are expected to be announced in September, with the pre-election period set to begin on the opening weekend of the Thessaloniki International Fair, the annual trade event where Greek prime ministers traditionally unveil the government's economic policy package.
The Samaras factor
Separately, former prime minister and ex-New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras is compiling his own lists aimed at making gains in specific prefectures, with most of his candidates drawn from former New Democracy officials.
Several extra-parliamentary members of the cabinet have confirmed they will contest the election. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis will run in the northern sector of Athens, Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou is also standing, Deputy Health Minister Marios Themistokleous will be a candidate in East Attica, and Deputy Minister Irini Agapidaki will run in the western sector of B' Athens.
New Democracy spokesperson Alexandra Sdouko will be a candidate in A' Athens, while Deputy Education Minister Nikos Papaioannou will run in A' Thessaloniki. Also already announced for A' Thessaloniki are Giannis Papageorgiou, coordinator of the prime minister's office, and Athanasios Tsiouras, a former secretary general of the finance ministry.
Names from politics, arts and medicine
Well known figures from politics, local government, the arts, medicine and law are also expected to be announced as candidates across the country.
They include lawyer Paula Damianou, running again in A' Athens, actor Thanasis Viskadourakis in the same sector, and Stamatis Poulis in Western Attica. In B' Piraeus, photographer Dimitris Skoulos is in contention, along with lawyer Apostolos Spanos in Evia and oncologist Konstantinos Tsigaridas in Evrytania.
In Evros, Elena Sokou, New Democracy's deputy press spokesperson for regional media and coordinator of the prime minister's office in Thessaloniki, is among the names being discussed.
Regional candidates across Greece
In Messinia, lawyer Porfylenia Kanellopoulou, along with Dimitris Kafantaris and Anastasios Skopeteas, are being considered. In Achaia, doctor Anna Mastorakou, Fokion Zaimis, Charalambos Bonanos, Thanasis Mavrommatis and Nikos Katsakioris are in the mix, while in Aitoloakarnania the mayor of Agrinio, Giorgos Papanastasiou, along with Christina Fountzoula and Anna Rokofyllou, are also under consideration.
In Fthiotida, Deputy Interior Minister Vivi Charalabogianni's name is strongly in play, while Fani Papathoma is being discussed for Voiotia.
In the Ionian islands, former mayor and long-time political figure Meropi Ydraiou is under consideration, along with Kostas Mousouroulis in Chios and Iason Pipinis in Lesvos, with more names still being added.
Uncertainty over Floros
Several party figures believe that Konstantinos Floros, a former Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, could be used as a candidate in a key region. People familiar with the process say it is too early, however, to discuss who will feature on the party's national list, the slate reserved for candidates who run across the whole country rather than in a single constituency.
