Marios Hannides announced his decision to withdraw his candidacy for the presidency of EDEK in a written statement.
At the same time, he announced his decision to support Koullis Mavronikolas’s candidacy for the presidency of EDEK.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The following is Marios Hannides’ written statement in its entirety:
From the very moment I announced my candidacy for the presidency of EDEK, I made it clear that my sole goal was to contribute to restoring the unity, the credibility, and the political vision of our Movement, thereby creating the conditions for a genuine political fresh start.
Over the past few days, I have had the opportunity to exchange views with many EDEK officials and members. I listened carefully to their concerns, reflections, and expectations. Through these discussions, I have come to the conclusion that, at this extremely critical juncture, EDEK cannot afford yet another internal power struggle.
The real issue at stake is not who will be elected President on September 5. The real issue at stake is preserving the unity of the Movement and creating the conditions for the extraordinary electoral convention to serve as the starting point for EDEK’s genuine renewal.
For this reason, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy and endorse the candidacy of my fellow candidate, Koullis Mavronikolas. I believe he possesses the political experience, institutional knowledge, and ability to serve as a force for consensus and stability during this difficult transitional period. I believe that, with composure and responsibility, he can help address the urgent organizational and political issues facing EDEK and create the necessary conditions so that the Movement can be led with unity, confidence, and credibility to the December electoral convention.
Today, more than ever, reconciliation, unity, and a common effort are paramount. I call on all EDEK members to put behind us whatever has divided us in recent months. Society is not interested in our internal disputes. It expects EDEK to prove that it can learn from its mistakes, unite its forces, and once again become a reliable force playing a meaningful role in the political life of the country.
Personally, I will continue to work with all my strength toward the reconstruction of EDEK, to restore it to its leading role in public life, and to defend the principles and values of social democracy that it has consistently upheld.
