Founder George Papandreou | Founded 3 January 2015 | |
Spokesperson Giorgos Petalotis,
Philippos Sachinidis Split from Panhellenic Socialist Movement Headquarters Piraeus 83 and Salamis, 105 53 Athens, Greece Ideology Social democracy
Pro-Europeanism | ||
The Movement of Democratic Socialists (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). The party officially uses To Kinima (Greek for The Movement) as the party's name abbreviation, although several media outlets and opinion pollsters have referred to it using the acronym KIDISO.
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Formation
The foundation of a new centre-left political party was announced on 2 January 2015 by George Papandreou, current President of the Socialist International, outgoing Member of the Hellenic Parliament and former Prime Minister of Greece, three weeks before the upcoming election to be held on 25 January. This confirmed Papandreou's split from the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), which he had led until being replaced as leader by Evangelos Venizelos in March 2012. 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.
On 3 January 2015, KIDISO was officially founded in the auditorium of the Benaki Museum in Athens. Five PASOK MPs were joined the new party, including Papandreou and former minister Filippos Sachinidis, who will serve as the party’s media representative alongside former deputy minister Giorgos Petalotis. Other well known PASOK politicians who joined KIDISO included former parliamentary speaker Filippos Petsalnikos and former minister Dimitris Reppas.
A 16-page founding declaration, signed by 252 founding members criticised the economic policies of the European institutions, supported the adoption of Eurobonds, and called for a "progressive, socialist, ecological Europe".
2015 Legislative Elections
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.
On 27 August 2015, PASOK officially ruled out a proposed electoral pact with KIDISO for the upcoming September 2015 snap election. On 2 September 2015, Papanderou stated that financial restrictions meant that KIDISO had ruled out contesting the election.
On 12 January 2017, Papanderou and PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata announced that KIDISO was merging with the Democratic Alignment.