PEOPLE WATCH

Melina Mercouri for Mayor: Melina Mercouri, Greece’s popular actress turned fiery socialist politician, will seek to become mayor of Athens in municipal elections in October. The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), which was defeated in a general election last June after eight years in power, has chosen Mercouri as its candidate against the ruling New Democracy Party. “Mercouri is probably the only person in PASOK popular enough to attract even conservative voters. If she wins the election, it could mean a new start for our party,” a senior PASOK official said. Mercouri, 65, served as culture minister from 1981 until 1989 in the government of former Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and led a campaign to promote Athens as host for the 1996 Olympic Games. She is best known for her role as a prostitute in the 1960 film “Never on Sunday,” for which she won an Oscar nomination.