The background that led to Anastasiou’s resignation and the potential successors

Intra-party tensions within EDEK are intensifying rather than subsiding, the division is deepening, and the party’s future remains well hidden behind the personal agendas and mutual distrust of its members. This situation has led Nicos Anastasiou to the exit door. The outgoing president realized that, despite his good intentions, he could not work miracles, nor did he have the resolve to make the drastic changes needed to heal the wounds of this historic political faction.

The party’s course was predetermined. While the more idealistic members had hoped that the electoral defeat in the parliamentary elections would serve as a wake-up call and a good opportunity for redemption, they were ultimately proven wrong. On the contrary, members and leadership lost even the last bit of motivation they had to keep fighting. EDEK remains a historic political party, but one with a very weak and diminished voice. If Nikos Christodoulides decides not to secure even a single cabinet seat for the party, then EDEK will also lose its representation in the executive branch.

The chain of events that led to the outburst

Nikos Anastasiou had come very close to resigning 50 days earlier. As “Alpha on Sunday” revealed, on the night of the electoral defeat in the parliamentary elections, the party president, with the help of his aides, typed out his resignation letter, which was even printed and ready to be announced. In the end, party officials dissuaded him at the very last moment, arguing that he was not personally responsible for the electoral defeat, which was the result of a series of mistakes spanning several years. He submitted his resignation to the Central Committee for a second time in June, but once again the party leadership refused to accept it.

This was followed by the July 5 convention, which for Nikos Anastasiou was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Despite the decision to reorganize the membership roster and reverse the expulsions, the situation now seemed dire. The jeers, the lights being turned off, and the booing between officials and, in particular, new members brought Nikos Anastasiou’s resolve to a head, as he once again rushed to put out fires.

But the icing on the cake came a few days later. According to leaks from within the movement, the outgoing president came under pressure from the committee tasked with cleaning up the membership registry to bypass the collective bodies. 

His resignation was accompanied by a statement that he himself sent to the media. This was not a standard resignation statement but rather a departure, containing references to “those who turned their backs on EDEK” and “knives drawn from their sheaths.”

Party officials are pictured with Nikos Nikolaidis, who—unilaterally, as they report—announced to the Central Committee the committee’s decisions to convene a Constitutional and Electoral Congress, something that, at least formally, falls under the jurisdiction of the party’s official bodies.

This committee consisted of Nikos Anastasiou as chair, Nikos Nikolaidis, Pavlos Michael, Michalis Koutalianos, and Diomedes Diomedes.

The Final Hours Before the Resignation

According to reports, on Thursday, July 9, the committee on the membership registry met, chaired by Nikos Anastasiou. During the meeting, Mr. Nikolaidis stated that the committee would have such responsibilities and powers, without the need for discussion or consultation with the movement’s collective bodies—in order to expedite the procedures.

According to information from the party, Nikos Anastasiou objected, citing the statutory legitimacy of the collective bodies’ existence and referring the matter to a meeting of the Political Bureau on July 13. Mr. Nikolaidis asked Nikos Anastasiou to issue a statement, using wording he himself had drafted, with the aim of legitimizing the committee’s powers through the signature of the party president. Nikos Anastasiou refused to issue the statement.

Sources close to the outgoing chairman claim that on the weekend before the Political Bureau meeting on July 13, Nikos Nikolaidis exerted unprecedented pressure on Mr. Anastasiou.

The Formation of the Committee

On Monday, July 13, the Political Bureau met in a session devoted primarily to discussions on the Cyprus issue and related developments, as well as the committee’s responsibilities.

The Political Bureau, citing provisions of the party’s bylaws, decided by a large majority that the sole mission of this committee is to compile a list of EDEK members who, in the recent parliamentary elections, were candidates for other parties, either worked on the campaign staffs of other parties or supported candidates from other parties, and to make recommendations to the Political Bureau.In short, not to undertake a complete overhaul of the membership registry, but to apply the above criteria.

In “Alpha on Sunday,” Nikos Nikolaidis rejects the party’s statements, declaring that “the minutes of the political bureau, as announced by the party, do not reflect the actual decisions of the July 5 convention. These decisions are documented both in audiovisual footage from the conference and in the testimonies of hundreds of members who attended the conference. Furthermore, the decisions of the conference and membership registry consolidation committee, which met on Thursday, July 9 (prior to the Political Bureau meeting) in the presence of the party President were in line with the actual decisions of the convention. No pressure was exerted on anyone.”

On the evening of the Political Bureau meeting, it was decided not to issue a statement and to give Nikos Anastasiou two days to inform the committee members, so that they could accept the decision smoothly.

A few hours later, Nikos Anastasiou was effectively forced to resign in an unprecedented manner by turning off his phones for hours and without informing anyone of his decision. On the one hand, this was to prevent his departure from being blocked again, and on the other, because sources close to him say that even his trust in front-line officials had been shaken.

Nikos Anastasiou appears to have subsequently spoken selectively with members of the movement. He did not contact any member of the membership registry committee, with sources reporting that former Limassol Mayor Nikos Nikolaidis himself attempted twice to speak with him after his resignation, but received no response.

The Day After

The question that arises is whether there will be a “next day” for the party. Factions are already emerging regarding the succession of Nikos Anastasiou.

Reports suggest there are at least two camps. One consists of the party’s youth wing, which is eager to take the helm, believing it can bring a breath of fresh air. On the other hand, figures from the current leadership and the so-called “old guard”—a legacy left by Marinos Sizopoulos and subsequently by Nikos Anastasiou— are eager to throw themselves into the fray. An informal rivalry already exists between these two camps, as is often the case between the old and the new.

Kostis Efstathiou has also entered the fray with his own statements; he appears to be softening his stance and has declared his intention to return to the party—with some caveats and conditions. In fact, he is backing party official Doros Theodorou, a former minister, though he has not ruled out running himself after his reinstatement to the membership rolls, should he so choose.

Nikos Nikolaidis is not interested in the party presidency, nor is Morfakis Solomonides at this time, with the latter telling his close associates that he is not interested in the party presidency but in remaining in his position as General Director. Surprises, of course, are always to be expected.

Many in the party consider Marios Hannides’ candidacy a foregone conclusion; meanwhile, he is also eyeing the presidency, placing himself at the disposal of Nikos Christodoulides.