Kouvelis backs incumbent Athens Mayor Kaminis

Fotis Kouvelis, the head of Democratic Left (DIMAR) which was the third party in the governing coalition until June last year, on Thursday expressed his support for Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis who is to seek reelection in local authority polls in May.

Speaking after talks with Kaminis, Kouvelis said he wanted to express his “unreserved” support for the incumbent mayor, congratulating Kaminis and his team for their “emancipated and independent work in local government.”

In 2010, Kaminis campaigned for the role of Athens Mayor following a proposal by DIMAR and with the support of socialist PASOK, which remains the second party in the ruling coalition.

Having decided not to back incumbent Kaminis, who is running as an independent, conservative New Democracy earlier this week announced that its preferred candidate was the MP Aris Spiliotopoulos. Another conservative lawmaker Nikitas Kaklamanis has also thrown his hat into the ring, causing some turmoil within the conservatives’ ranks.