Sitting side by side at the memorial service for Doros Loizou—in an effort to send a message of unity to the movement’s supporters—were the candidates for the EDEK presidency. This was the image they wanted to project to the outside world, because in reality the party has turned into a battlefield five days before the elections, amid an unprecedented atmosphere of division and introversion.

A new point of contention was whether, on election Saturday, supporters of the candidates would be allowed to be present at polling stations, as recommended by the Electoral Commission. Koullis Mavronikolas filed an objection, noting that he is the only candidate not represented on the Election Commission.   

KOULIS MAVRONIKOLAS: “Some
are trying to sow confusion and discord to serve their own interests. I will not allow it.”

SOFIA CHRISTODOULOU: “Why
should the established practice of having observers present—which is applied in state elections and guarantees transparency—be considered a threat?”

And Giorgos Kouttoukis stepping in as a “firefighter.”

GEORGE KOUTTOUKIS: “I call
on my fellow candidates not to drag EDEK into yet another round of internal conflicts.”

Sofia Christodoulou is publicly supported, among others, by the former Mayor of Limassol, Nikos Nikolaidis, former Minister Doros Theodorou, and the “Agona” initiative.

Koulis Mavronikolas finds support within the current leadership, with Deputy President Morfakis Solomonides, the party’s press secretary, and other officials from the Political Bureau and the Central Committee all casting their votes of confidence in him. Marios Hannidis, who withdrew from the race a few days ago, is also on his side.    

According to reports, Giorgos Kouttoukis is gaining ground among the inner circle of Marinos Sizopoulos, who, however, has not taken a position for or against anyone.

See Evangelos Agapios’s report:

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