User:Thepottato/2021 KINAL leadership election

The 2021 Movement for Change leadership election took place in 5 December 2021, in which six candidates took part. Since none of the candidates received 50% of the vote, a runoff election took place in 12 December, between Nikos Androulakis and George Papandreou.

The other candidates that took part were: Andreas Loverdos, Haris Kastanidis, Pavlos Geroulanos, and Pavlos Christidis. Nikos Androulakis won the runoff.

Background
On the 19th of November 2017, the second round of the 2017 Greek centre-left leadership election took place, with Fofi Gennimata defeating Nikos Androulakis. Political parties that took part in the elections then moved on to the founding of the Movement for Change on 16 March 2018.

On the 7th of July 2019, early elections took place, in which the Movement for Change received 8,10% of the vote, along with the third place with 22 MPs. The percentage was considered dissapointing by the party, blaming the President for it, expressed primarily from Pavlos Geroulanos. On November the 11th Congress of PASOK took place, aiming to extend the President's term till 2021, and also it was decided to combine the organs of Movement for Change with those of PASOK.

A conversation regarding the leadership elections started from the fall of 2020 within the Movement for Change, with Fofi Gennimata declaring that she would again stand as a candidate for them. On the 25th of November, Nikos Papandreou, MEP candidate in the 2019 EP elections, announced his candidacy for the position, but on the 2nd of December, he suspended it. On the 23rd of January 2021, Andreas Loverdos announced his candidacy for the leadership. Nikos Androulakis officially announced his candidacy on July of 2021. On the 1st of September Haris Kastanidis also announced his candidancy.

On the 3rd of October the Central Committee was convened, aiming to decide over the leadership elections. It was decided that the elections would take place on December 5th, and the second round on the 12th. The candidates, according to the statute, are required to collect 5.000 movement member signatures, to get their candidacy approved. However, that was not specified at the meeting, as candidates were in disagreement. Anyone that wants to vote, can sign up as a member or a friend of the party up until the elections, paying 3 Euros in the process.

On the 12th of October, Fofi Gennimata announced her withdrawal from the electoral process, due to health reasons.

On the 13th of October, Vassilis Kegkeroglou started collecting signatures, and announced his intention to run as a candidate and later, Pavlos Geroulanos also announced his candidacy. On the 15th of October, Pavlos Christidis announced his candidacy and resigned as Press Representative. On the same day, the final day for collecting signatures was moved from the 15th to the 21st of October. On the 20th of October, former Prime Minister, George Papandreou announced his candidacy. The next day, Vassilis Kegkeroglou withdrew from the electoral process, due to the candidacy of Papandreou.

On the 22nd of October, the Statute Implementation and Certification Ethics Committee of the Movement of Change, after reviewing the collected signatures, officially declared the candidates.

On the 25th of October, the President of the Movement for Change, passed away at age 56 at Evangelismos Hospital from Cancer.

O the 29th of November, a debate took place on ERT, between five of the six candidates, while George Papandreou disagreed with the process and refused to take part. Questions were taken by Giorgos Kouvaras, Tasos Pappas and Pavlos Tsimas, while Antrianna Paraskevopoulou was the moderator.

On the 5th December, the first round of the leadership elections took place. Nikos Androulakis reached the first place, George Papandreou reached the second spot. With the seond round incoming, Andreas Loverdos backed Nikos Androulakis, while the other three candidates did not publically back anyone.

On the 12th December, the second round of the leadership elections took place. Nikos Androulakis came out as the winner, defeating George Papandreou, with a percentage of 67,60%.