Formal entry into the PASOK group

Myrto Korovesi, an independent MP for East Attica, was formally admitted to the PASOK parliamentary group on Wednesday, 21 October, after meeting party leader Nikos Androulakis at his office in parliament. Her entry raises the group to 36 MPs. With her move, the number of independent MPs falls to 49 from 50.

Path from the SYRIZA ballot

Korovesi ran on the SYRIZA ballot in the 2023 national elections. Her seat came through a chain of withdrawals. The first-placed candidate in the region, Giorgos Karameros, became independent and handed the seat over to the party, and the second-placed Christos Spirtzis declined it by letter. The third candidate, Nasos Athanasiou, had died the previous summer at 75, so the seat passed to her. NewsIT notes that she won 8,183 preference votes in the May 2023 elections, when SYRIZA took 44,944 in East Attica.

From the Kasselakis years to independence

After the SYRIZA crisis that followed Alexis Tsipras's 2023 resignation, the 29-year-old politician sided with Stefanos Kasselakis, who presented her as 'new blood'. She ran on the party's European list in 2024, collecting just over 29,000 preference votes without being elected, and became its vice-president. NewsIT reports she held that post until she left. Kathimerini reports that she quit the Democrats, the renamed Movement for Democracy, a few days after being sworn in as an MP in mid-July, citing a 'confused political direction' and constant shifts in strategy.

Reactions and next steps

Androulakis said he was glad she had chosen to fight alongside PASOK in the next national elections.

“Welcome to our parliamentary group Myrto Korovesi, a new woman, politician and scientist, willing to contribute to a crucial struggle.”

In her reply, Korovesi said she recognised the moment as a historic one in which political change is necessary.

“I recognise that we are at a historic juncture where political change is necessary.”

She added that she would put all her strength into the effort to shape a country that has room for everyone.

Party arithmetic

NewsIT counts her as the fifth MP elected with SYRIZA to join PASOK, naming Evangelos Apostolakis, Rania Thraskia, Alexandros Avlonitis and Petros Pappas among the others. With 36 seats, PASOK's group now stands as the parliamentary group of the main opposition party, according to iefimerida.