By Adonis Konstantinou

• Member of the EDEK Political Bureau, SK

The EDEK Extraordinary Pan-Cypriot Congress, held on July 5, marked the beginning of the party’s journey toward the pinnacle of democratic process: the Electoral Congress.

Indeed, there were tensions, most of which were unnecessary, and some of which, unfortunately, were deliberately provoked.

But in the end, the decisive actions of the party’s President, Nikos Anastasiou, not only restored calm but also led to the final decision: EDEK is heading toward an Electoral Congress, following a Constitutional Congress.

The decisions announced on July 5, as supported by the entire convention and the leadership, are significant and include the following:

The EDEK Extraordinary Pan-Cypriot Congress decided to first convene a Constitutional Congress, scheduled for October, to be followed by the Ideological – Political and Electoral Congress.

It was also decided which membership registry the party will use for the Electoral Congress.

Finally, it was decided that an audit covering the period from 2010 to 2026 will be conducted by an independent auditing firm.

From now on, it must be our collective concern to avoid the emergence of any new form of introversion.

To ensure there is no shadow of doubt and no cause for concern for anyone, strict compliance with the existing Bylaws and the procedures derived from them is imperative.

In particular, regarding issues that have harmed EDEK in the recent past—such as the matter of the Membership Registry—legitimate decisions by collective bodies must be implemented, such as the unanimous decision of the Central Committee on July 23, 2025, and the decision of the Political Bureau on June 24, 2026.

And the picture is crystal clear. The Membership Registry has been consolidated from 2015 through 2025. In accordance with these decisions, the most recent being that of the Political Bureau on June 24, 2026, those who ran as candidates for other parties in last May’s parliamentary elections, those who were proven to have been involved with other parties, and those who campaigned on behalf of candidates from other parties.

Furthermore, according to the EDEK Statutes, Article 20 “Organs of the Movement,” these include the Pan-Cyprian Congress, the Extraordinary Pan-Cyprian Congress, the Statutory Congress, the Central Committee, and the Political Bureau; and the decisions of the above bodies, pursuant to Article 19, “Principles of Internal Operation,” must be in accordance with:

The Party’s Constitution and Principles.

The guidelines of the Congresses.

The decisions of the Central Committee

I emphasize and appeal: No deviation from adherence to the Party Constitution, no so-called “flexibility.”

If we compromise on legality, we risk entering a new cycle of internal questioning of everything by everyone, and this will be the final blow to EDEK.

Our party, a long-standing defender of the rule of law against coup plotters, against rebels, or against those who scheme to legitimize the illegality of the Turkish invasion, cannot accept violations of the rule of law in its internal affairs.

Therefore, following the Extraordinary Congress, the two collective bodies— the Political Bureau and the Central Committee, must take the necessary steps so that, democratically, transparently, and collectively, we can move toward the Electoral Congress. And there, EDEK members will decide who will lead the party into the future.