European Parliament lawmaker Nikos Androulakis has won the first round of the race for the leadership of the center-left Movement for Change (KINAL/PASOK) party.
Androulakis, 42, will face former Prime Minister Giorgos Papandreou, 69, in a runoff next Sunday, December 12.
With over 90% of the votes counted, Androulakis was leading Papadreou, 37.06% to 27.78%. while MP Andreas Loverdos, 65, was third with 25.95%.
Loverdos conceded late Sunday and said Monday that he will announce his support for one of the remaining candidates tomorrow.
KINAL officials said the turnout of party members and friends reached nearly 268,000, more than the 217,000 that voted in the last leadership contest, in 2017. Ballots boxes were set up also abroad.
However, citizens do not have to be party members to vote for the leader of KINAL/PASOK.
On Sunday, voters paid 3 euro for the participation and will not need to pay an additional fee to cast their vote next Sunday, as well.
PS Interesting that polls on several mainstream media were claiming a victory for Loverdos, a candidate some New Democracy officials had said they would support and even vote in favor for.
