PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis pledges 13th salary restoration at Heraklion rally

Anniversary rally in Heraklion

PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis addressed a public gathering at Eleftherias Square in Heraklion, Crete, on 3 September 2026, marking 52 years since the party was founded in 1974 by Andreas Papandreou. Accompanied by members of parliament, Political Council members, and regional officials, Androulakis identified Crete as the birthplace of Eleftherios Venizelos and a democratic stronghold that supported the 1981 political change. He conducted a walkthrough of central Heraklion earlier in the day before speaking to the evening crowd under the slogan of launching an electoral victory. In his speech, Androulakis characterized the event as the opening of an electoral campaign to challenge the New Democracy administration led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which he described as an insular system of governance.

Will we remain spectators of developments? Or will we take the future into our hands again?

Economic and labor commitments

The opposition leader announced a series of concrete economic commitments designed for PASOK's national election manifesto. His primary fiscal proposals include restoring the 13th month salary for civil servants, reinstating the 13th pension payment, and reintroducing a reformed EKAS social solidarity benefit for low-income retirees. For private sector workers, the platform pledges reduced tax burdens alongside the reinforcement of collective bargaining agreements. Small and medium-sized enterprise owners were promised the restoration of the 120-installment settlement mechanism to manage tax and state liabilities. Androulakis emphasized that these measures aim to provide direct relief to households experiencing wage exhaustion, price increases, and private debt.

Greece cannot endure another lost four-year term. It cannot endure another New Democracy term where the profits of the few rise, but wages run out by the 20th of the month.

Welfare, education, and primary production

The policy address set out targeted measures for young people, families, borrowers, and agricultural workers. On housing, the platform proposes public social housing, reduced rents, and policies to expand housing supply, combined with restored statutory protections for primary residences and tighter regulations on debt servicers. For families, the plan guarantees universal free preschool and nursery care. In healthcare and education, Androulakis pledged a reinforced National Health System with adequate medical staffing and a National Baccalaureate to decouple educational quality from family income. Agricultural proposals include tax-free diesel at the pump, local water management planning, solutions for farm labor shortages, producer-led energy communities, and strict inspections against fraudulent origin labeling.

European strategy and political autonomy

Turning to foreign and European policy, Androulakis argued that the European Union must establish a common foreign policy, a unified defense industry, and joint procurement programs so that frontline nations do not bear disproportionate armament costs while central European states invest elsewhere. He cited PASOK's governance record during the post-junta era, pointing to the development of public healthcare, modern infrastructure, and the diplomatic achievement of Cyprus joining the European Union. Androulakis affirmed the party's political autonomy, stating that its renewed candidate lists operate without obligations to oligarchic networks. Party officials confirmed that the complete policy program will be presented at the Thessaloniki International Fair in the following week.