In reaction to the socialist party's dismal showing in the most recent European Parliament elections, sources within PASOK on Wednesday rejected the notion of accelerating the leadership elections.

“We will not allow the party to sink into navel-gazing,” the sources said.

They reiterated that the election procedures will strictly follow the timeline detailed in the party statute, adding that "PASOK needs outward-looking initiatives, which are hindered by hastily coordinated public interventions from those who claim allegiance to institutional protocols."

In Sunday’s elections, PASOK garnered less than 13% of the vote, placing third behind the main opposition party, SYRIZA. Leader Nikos Androulakis had aimed for a second-place finish.

Odysseas Konstantinopoulos, a PASOK MP, demanded a leadership transition earlier on Wednesday and proposed moving up the scheduled leadership election that was initially scheduled for 2025.

“We need a robust reboot! A fresh, vigorous mandate to realize the lofty ambitions of PASOK, with leadership capable of mobilizing broader social forces,” he said in a message directed to the party’s secretary and the political committee.

Former minister Pavlos Geroulanos, who had competed against Androulakis in the 2021 leadership race, welcomed Konstantinopoulos' proposal.