Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (R) talks with the main opposition New Democracy party leader, Vangelis Meimarakis prior to a swearing-in ceremony of the new deputies that were elected in the September 20 general elections. (AFP)
The Greek opposition conservative New Democracy party, runners-up in the last election, on Thursday said they would elect a new leader on November 22.
"Elections for the post of party leader will be held on November 22, and a possible follow-up vote will take place on November 29," the party said.
New Democracy has been under an interim leadership since July following the resignation of former prime minister Antonis Samaras.
Four candidates are in the race -- acting leader Vangelis Meimarakis, central Macedonia regional governor Apostolos Tzitzikostas, lawmaker Adonis Georgiadis and the party's parliamentary spokesman Kyriakos Mitsotakis, son of former premier Constantine Mitsotakis.
In power for nearly half the last four decades, New Democracy lost successive elections in January and September to the left-wing Syriza party of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.