Who is supporting whom in a noisy election campaign marked by “flippant” epithets and toxicity
EDEK is going through the most critical period in its 57-year history, and the overall impression is one of bitterness and disappointment for a party that has played a leading role in all of the country’s major modern milestones. Division, introversion, ambition, infighting, and backstabbing will continue to plague the movement for quite some time yet, since the prevailing picture over the past few weeks leaves little room for optimism among the party’s members. Usually, a defeat is followed by reflection, self-criticism, and the recognition of mistakes. This process does not appear to have taken place within EDEK following the May 24 elections, since the party is navigating uncharted waters, with rivalries and cliques prevailing over teamwork, cooperation, and unity.
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The party is heading into a combative—without exaggeration—atmosphere at the polls this coming Saturday, September 5, for the election of its next president. This person, who will serve a three-month term, will lead EDEK to the statutory convention in October and subsequently to the electoral convention to elect the entire new leadership, including the president in December. Initially, there were four candidates in the race: Sofia Christodoulou, Marios Hannides, Koulli Mavronikola, and Giorgos Kouttoukis. Ultimately, Marios Hannides—who for the second time entered and then withdrew from the race for the movement’s presidency— decided to endorse former Member of the European Parliament Koullis Mavronikola.
The Candidates’ Profiles
Sofia Christodoulou, 27, president of the EDEK Youth Wing and the party’s top vote-getter island-wide in the recent parliamentary elections, appeared from the outset to have built momentum around her candidacy. Her “fresh” image, her youth, and her communication skills are among the qualities that have already led party officials and members—both long-standing and new—to publicly rally behind her.
However, before election day dawned, Sofia Christodoulou faced challenges from members of the very youth organization she chairs. The secretary-general of the youth wing and second-in-command, Andri Dimitriou Steka, stated in an announcement that Sofia Christodoulou, in pursuit of her personal goal of being elected President of EDEK, bypassed the youth wing’s collective bodies, avoiding discussion of her personal decisions and failing to ask any party official to sign her candidacy, while allegations have been made that the young candidate is exploiting her position as leader by presenting herself to the public as the movement’s youth wing’s chosen candidate. Sources close to Christodoulou have expressed disappointment with the secretary-general’s statements, as the two had maintained an excellent and friendly relationship until very recently.
Part of the youth wing, as well as veteran members of the movement, are standing by the candidate. Among them are Nikos Nikolaidis, the former mayor of Limassol and one of those responsible for reorganizing the membership registry; former minister Doros Theodorou; and Savvas Iliophotou. The young candidate is already garnering a significant number of public supporters on social media. Kostis Efstathiou remains publicly neutral; however, according to reports, he will also side with her. It should be noted that in the past, he had proposed Doros Theodorou as the most suitable candidate to assume the leadership.
Sofia Christodoulou is also supported by the “Struggle Initiative for the Reconstruction of EDEK,” an internal party movement created by officials and former members of the “Agonas” student faction, with the goal of rebuilding the party.
Part of the current leadership is working for Mavronikolas
On the other hand, Dr. Koullis Mavronikolas, 71, a front-line politician for nearly a decade, has made a comeback by rallying support from both new and longtime supporters. He has on his side part of the movement’s youth wing, led by Secretary-General Andri Dimitriou-Steka, as well as a large portion of the movement’s current leadership, according to information from “Alpha tis Kyriakis.”
Several members of the movement’s political bureau and central committee—including Vice President Morfakis Solomonides, press secretary Giorgos Georgiou, Achilleas Malachouridis, and Vice President Pambos Christodoulou, appear to be backing Koullis Mavronikola, as some of them have stated that they see in him a person who can unite the movement.
Koullis Mavronikolas, a figure from the old guard of EDEK, a former minister and Member of the European Parliament, is also supported by Marios Hannides, who withdrew his candidacy in his favor. However, several prominent veteran party officials have not yet come out in favor of a specific candidate, and some of them are not expected to do so until election day, as they do not wish to intensify the public debate for or against anyone. Among them are former President Giannakis Omirou, former President Nikos Anastasiou, who has now turned his attention to his family obligations, and the Mayor of Lefkara, Sophocles Sophocleous.
It should be recalled that in 2012, Mr. Mavronikolas, while serving as an elected Member of the European Parliament, decided to resign from the European Parliament, as he wished to run again for the position of Deputy President of EDEK and focus on his party duties. His seat in the European Parliament was taken by Sophocles Sophocleous, a runner-up on the EDEK ticket.
Sophocles Sophocleous, however, made pointed remarks about Marios Hannides following the withdrawal of his candidacy and his public support for Mr. Mavronikola, arguing that voters “are not sheep and have their own opinions and judgment without needing guidance.” Hannidis’s stance, however, was met with suspicion not only by other party officials but also by the leadership, who also support Mavronikola.
George Koutoukis, a member of the central committee who has chosen to make only limited public appearances, is also entering the electoral race. He expresses confidence in his election, which he bases on a rolling poll, as he states. He is the former Secretary of Finance for EDEK and appears to be supported mainly by supporters of the movement’s former President, Marinos Sizopoulos, who is also keeping his cards close to his chest regarding who he will vote for. In 2021, Mr. Kouttoukis resigned from the party when a scandal erupted over five checks issued from EDEK’s checkbook totaling approximately €30,000 by him for purposes unrelated to the party’s obligations. At the time, Marinos Sizopoulos stated that the handling of the matter by his financial director, Mr. Kouttoukis, had been improper.
Pre-election rhetoric with “flowery” epithets
The public discourse unfolding on social media and in the mainstream media leads to the conclusion that the candidates’ supporters are not focusing on promoting the person they back for the presidency by highlighting his qualifications and abilities, but rather choose to intensify the public confrontation with opposing camps, turning television shows and social media “feeds” into battlefields. A prime example is the clash that erupted on the “Alpha Summer” television show hosted by Neoklis Neokleous last week between Marios Hannides and Savvas Iliophotou. The discussion between two members of the same political faction took on a particularly intense and emotional tone. In fact, Savvas Iliophotou addressed Mr. Hannidis, telling him that before he uses his name, he should brush his teeth first!
This atmosphere prevails to a large extent on social media as well, confirming that healthy competition and noble rivalry, not so much on the part of the candidates themselves but of their supporters, have given way to personal agendas and the toxicity that runs through the veins of the movement.
