AKEL will enter the new House of Representatives with 15 MPs elected across all six districts, after the 24 May parliamentary elections. The party’s parliamentary group includes its General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou, several re-elected MPs, legal professionals, a journalist, a civil engineer, and candidates with backgrounds in trade unions, local government, youth organisations and social activism.
Let’s take a look at them.
Nicosia
Stefanos Stefanou
Stefanos Stefanou was elected in Nicosia as head of AKEL’s ballot. He was born in Gerolakkos in 1965, where he lived until the Turkish invasion, and later spent his school years in Deftera. Since 1995, he has lived in Geri. He studied in Sofia, Bulgaria, and holds a degree in Political Science, while also serving as President of the Organisation of Cypriot Students in Bulgaria. Stefanou worked for EDON in several posts and was elected its General Secretary in 1996. He later served as special adviser in the office of House President Demetris Christofias and as Government Spokesman during the Christofias administration from 2008 to 2013. He has been an MP for Nicosia since 2016 and was elected AKEL General Secretary after the party’s 23rd Congress.
Christos Christofides
Christos Christofides was re-elected as an AKEL MP for Nicosia. He was born in Morphou in 1974 and lives in Palouriotissa, Nicosia. He holds a degree in Education, a degree in Political Science from the University of Cyprus, a postgraduate degree in Sociology from the University of Warwick and a postgraduate degree in Political and Social Theory from the University of Cyprus. Christofides works at AKEL and is District Secretary of AKEL Nicosia-Kyrenia. He is also a member of the party’s Political Bureau and heads the Education Affairs Bureau of AKEL’s Central Committee. His political profile is closely linked to education policy, party organisation and AKEL’s central decision-making structures.
Aristos Damianou
Aristos Damianou was re-elected as an AKEL MP for Nicosia. He was born in Famagusta in 1972 and lives in Nicosia, where he works as a lawyer and legal adviser. He holds a law degree from Middlesex University and a master’s degree in Public International Law from Queen Mary University of London. Damianou has been an MP for Nicosia since 2011 and was elected to AKEL’s Central Committee Secretariat in 2021. In Parliament, he has chaired the Interior Committee and served on committees dealing with legal affairs, justice, public order, finance, the budget and human rights. He has also led Cyprus’ delegation to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Giorgos Loukaides
Giorgos Loukaides was re-elected as an AKEL MP for Nicosia. He was born in 1968 in Pyroi and has lived in Aglantzia since 1978. He studied International and European Studies at the University of Macedonia, specialising in Political Studies and Diplomacy. Loukaides has been a member of AKEL’s Central Secretariat and Political Bureau since 2013. He previously served as EDON General Secretary, AKEL Press Spokesman and head of the party’s Education and International Relations bureaus. First elected to Parliament in 2011, he was re-elected in 2016, 2021 and 2026, and has served as AKEL parliamentary representative since 2016. Since June 2025, he has been President of the Unified European Left group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Constantinos Constantinou
Constantinos Constantinou was elected as an AKEL MP for Nicosia. He is 46 years old, comes from Akaki and lives in Aglantzia. A journalist by profession, he is known as the editor and presenter of the television programme “24 Hours Together”. According to his AKEL 2026 candidate profile, he has strong voluntary activity in Cyprus and abroad. He led the Hope For Refugees team in Lesbos, took part in a humanitarian mission in Africa and has long supported the work of the Cyprus Paralympic Committee and other organisations. As a journalist, he has covered major events, election campaigns and important reporting assignments abroad.
Famagusta
Nikos Kettiros
Nikos Kettiros was re-elected as an AKEL MP for Famagusta. He was born in Larnaca and is 52 years old. His father came from Lysi and his mother from Karakoumi, Kyrenia. He grew up in Kiti and has lived in Larnaca since 2004. Kettiros studied Journalism in Nicosia and later studied Greek Civilisation at the Hellenic Open University. Before entering Parliament, he worked as a journalist for Logos, Mega, Antenna and CyBC, covering general, investigative and political reporting. He has been a member of AKEL’s Central Committee since 2015 and an MP for Famagusta since 2016. Since 2021, he has chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees, Enclaved, Missing and Adversely Affected Persons.
Giorgos Koukoumas
Giorgos Koukoumas was re-elected as an AKEL MP for Famagusta. He is 42 years old, was born and lives in Larnaca, and comes from occupied Angastina and Avgorou in the Famagusta district. He graduated from the Athens Law School and holds an LL.M. in Public International Law from the University of London. Koukoumas worked in AKEL’s International Relations Office and Press Office, and also as a scientific associate in the European Parliament. Since 2021, he has been AKEL Press Spokesman, while in 2025 he joined the party’s Political Bureau and Central Secretariat. He has been an MP for Famagusta since 2021 and chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights.
Yiannakis Gavriel
Yiannakis Gavriel was re-elected as an AKEL MP for Famagusta. He was born in Famagusta in 1961 and comes from Deryneia, where he lives. He studied Industrial and Wood Processing Engineering in Hungary and worked as a technical education teacher from 1996 to 2008. Gavriel has been a member of AKEL since 1986 and is a member of the party’s Central Committee. He served as AKEL regional secretary in the free area of Famagusta from 2017 to 2020. In 2008, he was elected Famagusta district secretary of the Union of Cypriot Farmers, and since 2009 he has been a member of the secretariat of its executive council.
Limassol
Efraim Christou
Efraim Christou was elected as an AKEL MP for Limassol. He is 24 years old, was born in Limassol and comes from Vasa Koilaniou and Phini, where he grew up and still lives. He graduated from Mitsi School in Lemithou in 2020 and, in 2025, completed a degree in Mathematics and Economics at the University of Cyprus. He also holds a diploma in French Civilisation from the University of Besançon and is pursuing postgraduate studies in Public Administration at the University of Nicosia. Christou has served as Secretary of AKEL’s Marathasa-Phini party group and is a member of EDON’s Central Council. In 2024, he was elected President of the University of Cyprus Student Union.
Marina Nikolaou
Marina Nikolaou was re-elected as an AKEL MP for Limassol. She is 39, was born in Limassol, comes from Pelendri and lives in Polemidia. She graduated from the University of Cyprus Department of Social and Political Sciences and became active from a young age in EDON, PEOM and the Progressive Student Movement. Nikolaou has been an MP since June 2021 and serves as Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Interior Committee, while also sitting on the Foreign and European Affairs, Health and Environment committees. She is a member of AKEL’s Central Committee, the party’s Limassol District Committee and the General Council of POGO. From 2016 to 2021, she worked as a political adviser for the Left group in the European Parliament.
Argentoula Ioannou
Argentoula Ioannou was elected as an AKEL MP for Limassol. She is 62, was born in Famagusta and lives in Limassol. A lawyer and insolvency adviser, she holds a law degree from the University of Thrace, a postgraduate degree in Commercial Law from the University of Bristol and a postgraduate degree in Gender Studies from the University of Cyprus. Ioannou is a member of AKEL’s Central Committee and has served on the party’s Limassol District Committee. She is President of the Pancyprian Association of Single-Parent Families and Friends, and has also been active in women’s, social and legal organisations. Her election adds legal expertise and long-standing social activism to AKEL’s parliamentary group.
Larnaca
Andreas Pasiourtides
Andreas Pasiourtides was re-elected as an AKEL MP for Larnaca. He was born in 1984 and comes from Pervolia, while he lives in Larnaca. He studied Law at the Democritus University of Thrace and works as a lawyer and legal adviser. Pasiourtides has been active in AKEL and its youth structures from a young age, including through EDON and the Progressive Student Movement. He has been an MP for Larnaca since 2016 and has served on parliamentary committees dealing with legal affairs, institutions, human rights, transport and communications. His re-election keeps one of AKEL’s established younger parliamentary figures in the party’s Larnaca representation.
Panikos Xiourouppas
Panikos Xiourouppas was elected as an AKEL MP for Larnaca. He is 57, comes from Aradippou and lives in Larnaca. He worked for the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority and has long been active in local and social initiatives in the district. Xiourouppas is Head of the Larnaca Social Alliance and President of the “Ray of Light” foundation. His public activity has focused on community support, social solidarity and engagement with local organisations. His election brings to AKEL’s Larnaca representation a profile shaped by social activism, district-level organisation and voluntary work.
Paphos
Valentinos Fakontis
Valentinos Fakontis was re-elected as an AKEL MP for Paphos. He was born in Paphos in 1985 and lives in Geroskipou. A civil engineer, he graduated from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and has worked in the field since 2013, running his own technical office for studies and supervision. Fakontis has been an AKEL MP for Paphos since 2021 and sits on parliamentary committees covering transport, communications and works, agriculture and natural resources, interior affairs and defence. From 2016 to 2021, he served as a municipal councillor and school board member in Geroskipou. He is a member of AKEL’s Central Committee and heads the party’s transport and shipping sector.
Kyrenia
Anastasia Hasikou
Anastasia Hasikou was elected as an AKEL MP for Kyrenia. She is 42, comes from Dikomo and was born and lives in Lakatamia. She is an academic musicologist, with a PhD in Sociology of Music, a degree in Political Science and postgraduate studies in musicology. Hasikou served on EDON’s Central Council from 2009 to 2016, heading the organisation’s central cultural office, and was a member of AKEL’s Nicosia-Kyrenia District Committee from 2017 to 2022. She is a municipal councillor in Lakatamia and a member of the Prometheus Research Institute. She has performed as a pianist in Cyprus and abroad and is conductor of the Dikomo Choir.
