Nikos Anastasiou announced his resignation from the leadership of EDEK today, Tuesday, Nikos Anastasiou, who stated that, 50 days after the parliamentary election results, “I realize that, instead of the knives being sheathed, they are being sharpened, with all that this entails,” and that he had failed in his effort to unite the party.

In a written statement sent to KYPE, Nikos Anastasiou states that he tried “desperately,” convening all party bodies (Central Committee, Political Bureau), and even an Extraordinary Pan-Cypriot Congress —open to all members—with the ultimate goal of “allowing the EDEK membership to vent their frustrations and sheathe their knives, as I emphatically stressed at the congress.”

“Let there be self-criticism, let there be criticism, let responsibilities be assumed, and let us move forward united, leaving behind what divided us, and rebuild the militant EDEK on solid foundations— the socialist EDEK, the EDEK of solidarity, the patriotic EDEK, which has led the way in all the struggles of this martyred land,” he adds.

“From the very beginning, I assumed the responsibilities that fell to me, as President and as head of the election campaign,” he continues, stating that “I have failed in my effort to unite the historic EDEK party,” Nikos Anastasiou announces his decision to step down from the party leadership, “thereby giving someone else the opportunity to lead who might be more successful.”

He also thanked his fellow candidates who stood by him, “supporting the effort that was made, as well as the 56 candidates who fought to help us achieve even 3.3%.”

Finally, he emphasized that “it wasn’t easy, because behind those who turned their backs on us, there were—and still are—personal agendas,” while expressing the hope that “this venerable party will find its way again,” since “there are young people, so there is hope.”