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The internal pressure in New Democracy is about cause immediate leadership elections. According to the Greek media, current temporary party leader Evangelos Meimarakis is ready to activate the procedures of leadership elections by the end of summer.

His reaction is a response to the fact that leading representatives of New Democracy do not want him to lead the party at least until next spring when it is expected to hold its extraordinary congress. Therefore, Meimarakis will probably propose leadership elections to take place on 30 August. The political committee of New Democracy will discuss the proposal at a meeting this coming Friday.

Commentators point out that this date should not be considered final, as the position of former Prime Minister and leader of New Democracy for 13 years Kostas Karamanlis would play a crucial role with regard to the future of the party.

"I am for a clear solution from the first moment. If they do not want me to remain a party leader until 2016, it is no problem for me," Meimarakis points out in a statement for the newspaper To Vima.

It is worth noting that in an interview with the Greek state broadcaster ERT a few days ago he said he was against leadership elections through open voting, i.e. everyone who wants to participate in them. "Everyone who would pass by the election centre and would give 2 euro to vote," he said, adding, "My personal opinion is that the party leadership must be elected by its members."

Evangelos Meimarakis took the lead of New Democracy a day after the referendum on 5 July. Leader at the time Antonis Samaras resigned hours after the end of voting.