This note is a rejoinder to a comment made by Professor Domenico Fruncillo on my paper published in the previous issue of this journal. My aim here is to respond to his valuable comments. I have selected what I consider as the most important ones, which include the role of primary elections in promoting democracy and a specific one referring to the age effect (young versus old) in determining the result. My point of view is that primary elections should be seen as the first necessary step towards improving the democratic process; the same method can be later used to decide on issues of ideology and policies. My response to the latter important issue is as follows. The real debate in PASOK’s case was not between old and young, but between those who were involved in holding government positions in the past (one prime minister and three ministers were running for PASOK’s presidency), and those who did not. Of course, this is strongly correlated with age. Keywords: primaries, elections, voting, political parties, PASOK, Greece
The Use of Primaries by Political Parties: The Case of PASOK - A Rejoinder
