Movement for Change (Greece)


The Movement for Change is a centre-left political alliance in Greece, founded in March 2018. It includes the Panhellenic Socialist Movement and Movement of Democratic Socialists, and formerly included The River and Democratic Left.

History

In July 2017, PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata announced the formation of a new unified centre-left party in Greece before the end of the year. In the summer of 2017, Stavros Theodorakis, leader and founder of The River also decided to participate in the creation of the party. After the leadership election, both PASOK–DIMAR and The River planned to continue with separate parliamentary groups until the new party's founding congress, scheduled for spring 2018. On 12 November 2017, the first round of leadership elections was held to select the new party's founding leader. Nine initial leadership candidates included Gennimata, Theodorakis, Athens mayor Giorgos Kaminis, PASOK MEP Nikos Androulakis, EDEM party leader Apostolos Pontas, academic Constantinos Gatsios, former PASOK ministers Yiannis Maniatis and Yiannis Ragousis, and Dimitris Tziotis. The candidates reaching the second-round election were Gennimata, with 44.5% of the vote, and Androulakis, with 25.4%. The run-off on 19 November was won by Gennimata, who garnered 56% of the vote. On 28 November 2017, “Movement for Change” was announced as the preliminary name of the party. On 2 December 2017, the party's six-member ruling council was announced, being composed of Gennimata, Theodorakis, Androulakis, Kaminis, DIMAR leader and former PASOK Prime Minister George Papandreou.
The party held its founding congress on 16–18 March in Athens. During the congress, the new logo was unveiled and the party’s charter and policy program was approved by the overwhelming majority of members.
On 2 July 2018, The River left KINAL. On 20 January 2019, DIMAR also left KINAL due to its position of supporting the Prespa agreement. On 1 June 2019 former PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos left KINAL, accusing Gennimata of turning the Movement into "SYRIZA's tail".
KINAL increased its obtained seats in the 2019 legislative election compared to Democratic Alignment, becoming Greece's third-largest party or coalition and securing 22 seats in the Hellenic Parliament.

Election Results

Hellenic Parliament

European Parliament