EDEK and the Democratic Party are in the midst of internal reorganization, against the backdrop of discussions on political alliances and the upcoming presidential election. Speaking on the Alpha News program, Marios Hannides, a member of EDEK’s Political Secretariat, and Alekos Tryfonides, a former member of parliament for DIPA, discussed developments within the two parties, the prospects for cooperation with other political forces, and their stance toward the President of the Republic.
Alekos Tryfonidis made it clear that the Democratic Alignment does not believe the time has come for discussions regarding the presidential election, as the party’s reorganization is the top priority. “We, as the Democratic Alignment, believe it is far too early to discuss the issue of the presidential election. Period,” he stated emphatically. As he explained, an organizational and communications restructuring is currently underway, with the goal of holding a constitutional and electoral convention early next year, after which the issue of the presidential election will be put up for discussion.
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Referring to the contacts between DIPA and DIKO, Mr. Tryfonides revealed that a meeting took place in late July between Marios Karoyian and Nikolas Papadopoulos, during which ideas for cooperation were discussed. “Trust must be built,” he emphasized, adding that trust and transparency are essential prerequisites. According to him, DIPA proposed that working groups from both parties collaborate on 10 to 15 issues of major political significance, with the aim of finding common ground. He clarified that the effort is not limited exclusively to DIKO, and that any final decision must be made by the parties’ collective bodies.
For his part, Marios Hannides referred to the financial difficulties faced by EDEK following its failure to enter Parliament, noting that the party lost a state subsidy of €700,000. As he noted, a decision has been made to reduce the staff from 19 to 9 people, and he expressed strong objections to the manner in which the layoffs are being carried out. “My position, and that of many members of the party leadership, is and remains that retirees who have some income should be the first to leave,” he stated, arguing that older employees with family and financial obligations should be protected. At the same time, he acknowledged the need for financial changes to ensure the party’s sustainability.
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Regarding EDEK’s internal party procedures, Mr. Hannides stated that the constitutional amendments are expected to be finalized on October 25, while district conferences to elect district committees will be held within the next ten days. The process will culminate in December with the election of new leadership. When asked about the presidential election, he noted that EDEK currently supports President Nicos Christodoulides, however, the new leadership and the relevant bodies will decide the party’s future stance.
Finally, Mr. Hannides addressed EDEK’s disagreements with the President of the Republic regarding the Cyprus issue, pointing out that, despite their cooperation, substantial differences remain. “We have substantial and significant disagreements regarding the Cyprus issue,” he said, emphasizing that for EDEK, the issue is not about a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, but about the invasion and occupation. At the same time, he clarified that the constitutional changes being promoted within the party concern its internal operations and not its broader political direction.
