Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-01-10

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Runoff elections for main opposition New Democracy's leader underway without problems

[01] Runoff elections for main opposition New Democracy's leader underway without problems

The vote is between rival candidates Vangelis Meimarakis, who had served as interim party leader over the summer after Antonis Samaras stepped down and resigned after a first, and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a former minister.

Sources within Meimarakis' staff said that roughly 80,000 voters had cast their vote in the internal party elections by 12:30, or roughly 20-23 pct less than the number of voters that turned out in the first round.

Mitsotakis cast his own vote at around 10:30 in Kifissia and afterward stated that "a new day is dawning for ND and Greece." He thanked voters that took part in the process and appealed to everyone to exercise their right to vote.

"On Monday, ND will not only be united but also renewed and ready to put forward an alternative plan of governance," he said.

Meimarakis visited the polling station at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and said he felt optimistic that "ND will proceed positively from tomorrow, whichever president is elected." He later voted at a polling station at the former town hall in Ymittos. In the case that he is elected president, Meimarakis pledged that any changes in the party's structure and organisation will be based on merit and democratic procedures, avoiding patronage and cronyism.

Interim ND President Yiannis Plakiotakis voted in Agios Nikolaos, Crete and said that the present goal was to make ND a great, strong and modern European political force. "Through our participation, we ensure our party's smooth progress into the future," he said.

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