EDEK has entered a new period of internal turmoil following the resignation of Nikos Anastasiou as party leader, with disagreements now centring not only on his successor but also on who has the authority to implement decisions taken at the party's Extraordinary Pancyprian Congress on 5 July.
The party announced that its Political Bureau and Central Committee will convene, stressing that these are the only collective bodies empowered to implement congress decisions. EDEK also pledged that the decisions would be carried out and called on party officials to act responsibly and safeguard the smooth functioning of the party.
Five-member committee at centre of dispute
At the heart of the controversy lies the special five-member committee established by the congress.
The temporary working group was initially headed by Anastasiou and included Nikos Nikolaides, Diomedes Diomidous, Pavlos Michael and Michalis Koutalianos. Its creation was linked to the overhaul of the party membership register, an issue that will determine who is eligible to participate and vote in future internal elections.
Following Anastasiou's resignation, the four remaining members said they would continue their work, arguing that their mandate is clear.
According to their interpretation, the committee's responsibilities extend beyond reviewing the membership register and include coordinating preparations for both the constitutional congress and the electoral congress.
This is where the dispute arises.
The official party leadership maintains that the committee's role is more limited and mainly concerns compiling a list of individuals who either participated in or supported other political formations during the most recent parliamentary elections.
Under that interpretation, final responsibility for organising the congresses remains with the Political Bureau and Central Committee.
Nikolaides alleges congress decisions were altered
Committee member Nikos Nikolaides, speaking on Politis Radio, alleged that attempts were made after the congress to alter its decisions by removing powers from the committee and changing a resolution concerning an independent financial audit.
He said the real decisions were recorded and could be verified through audio and video recordings of the proceedings.
Responding on behalf of EDEK, party spokesman Giorgos Georgiou rejected the allegations, insisting that the party is guided by the congress decisions, the party constitution and officially signed minutes.
He argued that public claims of manipulation damage reputations and deepen internal divisions.
However, he did not specifically address whether the published minutes fully reflect everything approved by delegates.
Leadership race looms
The leadership issue also remains unresolved.
Under EDEK's constitution, when a party leader resigns, the deputy leader assumes the chairmanship on an interim basis while procedures are launched to elect a new leader within 40 days.
Regarding the election of a new president to serve until the party's Electoral Congress in December, Georgiou said the process would begin shortly, although no exact date has yet been determined.
Meanwhile, EDEK's Constitutional Congress is scheduled to take place in October.
