Movement of Democratic Socialists

The Movement of Democratic Socialists[3][4] (Greek: Κίνημα Δημοκρατών Σοσιαλιστών, Kinima Dimokraton Sosialiston) is a political party in Greece established on 3 January 2015 by George Papandreou after splitting from the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK).[1][5] The party officially uses To Kinima (Το Κίνημα, "The Movement") as the party's name abbreviation, although several media outlets and opinion pollsters have referred to it using the acronym KIDISO (ΚΙΔΗΣΟ).[6]

Movement of Democratic Socialists
Κίνημα Δημοκρατών Σοσιαλιστών
SpokespersonGiorgos Petalotis,
Philippos Sachinidis[1]
FounderGeorge Papandreou[1]
Founded3 January 2015[1]
Split fromPanhellenic Socialist Movement
HeadquartersPiraeus 83 and Salamis, 105 53 Athens, Greece
IdeologySocial democracy[2]
Pro-Europeanism
Political positionCentre-left
National affiliationDemocratic Alignment (2017)
PASOK – Movement for Change (since 2017)
Colors  Red
  Green
Hellenic Parliament
1 / 300
European Parliament
0 / 21
Website
www.tokinima.gr

History

Formation

The foundation of a new centre-left political party was announced on 2 January 2015 by George Papandreou, outgoing Member of the Hellenic Parliament and former Prime Minister of Greece, three weeks before the upcoming election to be held on 25 January.[7] This confirmed Papandreou's split from the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK),[8] which he had led until being replaced as leader by Evangelos Venizelos in March 2012.[9] PASOK officials immediately denounced Papandreou's move as an "unethical and irrational political act", accusing Papandreou of fracturing PASOK and being motivated by personal ambition.[10][8]

On 3 January 2015, KIDISO was officially founded in the auditorium of the Benaki Museum in Athens. Five PASOK MPs joined the new party, including Papandreou and former minister Filippos Sachinidis, who would serve as the party’s media representative alongside former deputy minister Giorgos Petalotis.[1] Other well known PASOK politicians who joined KIDISO include former parliamentary speaker Filippos Petsalnikos and former minister Dimitris Reppas.[1]

A 16-page founding declaration, signed by 252 founding members[11] criticised the economic policies of the European institutions, supported the adoption of Eurobonds, and called for a "progressive, socialist, ecological Europe".[12]

2015–present

In the January 2015 legislative election, KIDISO received 2.46% of the national vote, thus failing to cross the 3% threshold to receive seats in the Hellenic Parliament.[13]

On 27 August 2015, PASOK officially ruled out a proposed electoral pact with KIDISO for the upcoming September 2015 snap election.[14] On 2 September 2015, Papandreou stated that financial restrictions meant that KIDISO had ruled out contesting the election.[15]

On 12 January 2017, Papandreou and PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata announced that KIDISO was joining the Democratic Alignment.[16][17]

KIDISO later joined the Movement for Change (KINAL) together with PASOK, DIMAR and To Potami. Two party members, leader George Papandreou and former PASOK minister Haris Kastanidis, were among the 22 KINAL MPs elected in 2019. As a result of the decision by Nikos Androulakis to exercise his prerogative as party leader to retain the single Thessaloniki A seat won by PASOK–KINAL in the May 2023 and June 2023 elections, Haris Kastanidis is no longer a member of parliament.[18]

Election results

Hellenic Parliament
Election Hellenic Parliament Rank Government Leader
Votes  % ±pp Seats won +/−
Jan 2015 152,557 2.47% New
0 / 300
 New 8th Extra-parliamentary George Papandreou
2019 457,519
(KINAL)		 8.10%
(KINAL)		 +0.95[lower-alpha 1]
2 / 300
 Increase 2 3rd Opposition
May 2023 676,166
(PASOK–KINAL)		 11.46%
(PASOK–KINAL)		 +3.36
1 / 300
 Decrease 1 3rd Snap elections
Jun 2023 617,574
(PASOK–KINAL)		 11.84%
(PASOK–KINAL)		 +0.38
1 / 300
 Steady 0 3rd Opposition

Notes
  1. Movement for Change (KINAL) results are compared with the combined totals for PASOK and KIDISO in the January 2015 election.

References
  1. "Papandreou launches party, aims for post-election role". Kathimerini. 2015-01-03. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  2. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019). "Greece". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  3. "Papandreou launches party, aims for post-election role". ekathimerini.com. 2015-01-03. Retrieved 2015-01-24.
  4. "Papandreou unveils "Movement of Democrats Socialists" party". tovima.gr. 2015-01-05. Retrieved 2015-01-24.
  5. Stone, Jon (2015-01-03). "Former Greek prime minister George Papandreou sets up new centre-left political party". The Independent. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  6. See for example :"Σκληρό ροκ για ΔΗΠΑΡ και ΚΙΔΗΣΟ". capital.gr. 2015-01-05. Retrieved 2015-01-06.
  7. "Papandreou to launch new party". Kathimerini. 2015-01-02. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  8. MacKenzie, James (2015-01-02). "Former Greek PM Papandreou sets up new party, complicating election outlook". Reuters. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  9. "Greece's Upcoming Election Just Got More More Complicated". Business Insider. 2015-01-02. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  10. Stamouli, Nektaria (2015-01-02). "Papandreou's Return to Greek Politics Adds New Wild Card to Election". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  11. «Κίνημα - Δημοκρατών Σοσιαλιστών» το κόμμα Παπανδρέου ["Kinima Dimokraton Sosialiston," Papandreou's party]. 2015-01-03. Retrieved 2015-01-07.
  12. Διακήρυξη αρχών και στόχων [Grundsatzerklärung und Ziele]. Kinima. 2014-01-03. Archived from the original on 2019-09-23. Retrieved 2015-01-07.
  13. "Welcome to nginx eaa1a9e1db47ffcca16305566a6efba4!185.15.56.1". Archived from the original on 2015-01-26. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  14. "PASOK rules out cooperating with Papandreou party - Kathimerini".
  15. "Papandreou party will not contest in snap vote - Kathimerini".
  16. "Former Greek PM Papandreou returns to PASOK - Kathimerini".
  17. Kolasa-Sikiaridi, Kerry (13 January 2017). "Former Greek PM Papandreou Joins Democratic Alignment - GreekReporter.com". Greekreporter.com.
  18. "PASOK MP vexed by leader's decision to keep Thessaloniki seat". Kathimerini. Athens. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
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