Economic reconstruction, the days ahead, and their role in the presidential election
The parties that failed to win seats in parliament following the May 24 elections are now searching for direction, resources, and a way forward. Although these parties had hoped to enter or return to parliament, they were left out and are now searching for a future. If their vote shares are added together, they are not negligible, and the presidential candidates will certainly have no choice but to engage with them and seek their support. On the other hand, these parties have lost their momentum, their prestige, and their ability to participate in the passage of laws and the formulation of policies. These parties are now in the process of determining—through their conventions—what went wrong and formulating a plan for the future. The next steps will determine what the political dynamics will be and how they will play out in the upcoming elections.
EDEK in the Process of Reorganization
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
EDEK is preparing for a constitutional and electoral convention at a time when it appears that the new president has brought a breath of fresh air to the movement—a positive development for some, a negative one for others.
Rumors are circulating in district committees, with the Larnaca district chair, Evangelos Georgiadis, having resigned following her election. At last week’s political bureau meeting, the new president proposed the appointment of three people to key positions within the party; however, none of the proposals were accepted.
It appears that Sofia Christodoulou intends to bring new blood into the party, which is why she strategically chooses to be accompanied by younger individuals at her meetings. Following her decision to lift the expulsions, party officials—including Kostis Efstathiou and even Dimitris Papadakis—are expected to become active again. The leadership will undergo a radical change after the December electoral convention, and the new faces will lead the movement into the presidential election. In this way, the new president hopes that, if she is re-elected, the leadership team will consist of people she trusts. This is not the case with current officials such as Vice President Morfakis Solomonidis.
Although the movement has more assets than other parties—primarily in real estate—it is facing significant financial strain, with the new president announcing her intention to implement a 60% cut labor costs and to make better use of its real estate holdings by renting them out to secure funds. The prospect of pay cuts has already caused an uproar among EDEK’s salaried staff.
Karoyan: The Only One Who Remains in His Position
Marios Karoyan is the only party leader who, despite not having been elected to Parliament, has chosen to remain at the helm. The assessment is that this decision is primarily due to the personal nature of his party and the fear that the Democratic Party is synonymous with Marios Karoyan; and therefore his departure might have signaled the end of the faction.
Some party officials attribute this to the president’s misjudgment of events and conditions prior to the elections, which they say he may now be able to correct with a renewed mandate.
The party is preparing for an ideological-political and electoral convention at which Marios Karoyian will once again run for leadership, while the party is simultaneously laying the groundwork for the presidential race. At present, it does not appear that he will face an opponent, while sources say the goal is to create a position of vice president as well.
DIPA is also struggling financially. Members are holding daily meetings within the party in an effort to find ways to ensure its sustainability. In the coming days, a new plan will be implemented, with party officials being asked to make a financial contribution of at least €50 in the first phase to the party’s fund. This call will be extended to more than 100 party officials.
On another note…
The next major milestone for VOTL is the election convention to be held on October 10. So far, Pieros Karoullas and Lysia Dimitriou have expressed interest in the co-presidency; who have been part of the leadership in recent years alongside Andromache Sophocleous and Panos Parra, who have decided not to seek re-election. Natasha Ioannou, who was a candidate for parliament in the Kyrenia district, has also announced her candidacy.
It is worth noting that the party is funded by contributions from its members. In fact, the building that was provided to house the party’s headquarters in the center of the capital has been abandoned since the parliamentary elections.
The Greens in Search of Leadership
The Greens are preparing for an extraordinary electoral convention on November 14. Stavros Papadouris, who joined the party in 2021 as a rising “rising star” with no prior ties to the Greens, has submitted his resignation, and Vice Chair Maria Kola has expressed interest; she is expected to make her decision within the next few days. The name of activist Oz Karahan is also being mentioned, not for the presidency but for a leadership position. Vice President Katerina X. Styli is also expected to show interest.
Regarding the presidency, there were also rumors of a return by Giorgos Perdikis. He himself stated on Sunday’s Alpha TV program that he is not interested in any leadership position, especially not that of president.
The party is facing enormous financial difficulties. In recent months, a large number of staff members have been laid off, and regional offices have also been shut down. As a result of these layoffs, only two people are currently employed by the movement—one full-time and one part-time. The financial difficulties will be addressed immediately after the elections, at which time the new financial secretary will take office with a plan to secure grants and other funding.
Non-parliamentary parties on the road to the presidential election
Their limited momentum and failure to secure seats in the House of Representatives have temporarily sidelined these parties, in the sense that they have lost their leading role in passing laws and shaping public discourse. However, the potential presidential candidates for the presidential election do not share this view. In presidential elections, every percentage point—even the smallest—can determine the final outcome, especially in the second round.
Once they have fully recovered from the shock of the parliamentary elections and following their party conventions, the parties will decide whose side they will take in 2028.
EDEK and the presidency, despite the disappointment of some leadership members over the previous reshuffle, are giving each other the nod. The President of the Republic is investing in an excellent relationship with the new party president, who, without hiding it, continues to support him.
The issue is that even those who support her and returned to the party after the expulsions were lifted—such as Kostis Efstathiou—do not support Christodoulides. EDEK remains divided on this issue as well.
DIPA remains disappointed with Christodoulides’ stance on appointments to semi-governmental organizations, since, as they report, they expected at least one party member to be included in each legal entity. Furthermore, despite the fact that the President kept Ministers Palma and Mousioutta in their posts, DIPA had expected other officials to be appointed as ministers as well, such as Alekos Tryfonidis, whom Marios Karoyan had proposed.
According to information from “Alpha tis Kyriakis,” indicate that voices within the party favor the possibility of supporting Kyriakos Kenevezos, who has already expressed interest in the position. Prominent party officials do not rule out supporting him, provided, however, that he represents a mutually acceptable candidate for the centrist bloc or at least has some support within it. This interpretation, however, has practically no basis, since DIKO has no intention of supporting such an effort. At present, DIPA is not involved in his discussions.
Sources, however, report that the former ambassador and ex-secretary-general of DIKO—and now a close ally of DIPA—has made his decisions, having already expressed his intention to key figures on the political scene to run as a candidate and having held his latestcontacts with political parties. Given the difficulties of winning an election, his goal is to re-engage in the country’s active political life, a few years after his 10-year tenure at the helm of the Cypriot Embassy in Athens.
The Ecologists and VOLT will make any decisions following their post-election conventions.
