Former EDEK president Yiannakis Omirou has launched a sharp attack on the procedures governing the party's leadership election scheduled for 5 September, expressing what he described as sadness over the "unprecedented" developments surrounding the contest.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Omirou accused party officials of undermining transparency and the free expression of members' will, arguing that the election process suffers from serious shortcomings.
Criticism of election arrangements
Among the issues raised by Omirou were:
- The prohibition of observers representing the candidates at polling stations.
- The removal of certain polling centres.
- The selection of voting venues which, he argued, would make participation more difficult rather than easier for party members.
According to Omirou, these decisions raise concerns about the integrity and credibility of the election process.
Links criticism to party's wider decline
The former EDEK leader linked the current controversy to what he views as the broader trajectory of the party in recent years.
He criticised the leadership over the party's poor performance in the most recent parliamentary elections and referred to the expulsion and exclusion of party officials and members.
"After leading EDEK to electoral collapse in the parliamentary elections, after decapitating officials and members through exclusions and expulsions, they are now proceeding with a porous and vulnerable election process lacking legitimacy," he said.
Appeal for intervention
Omirou invoked his long-standing association with EDEK, noting that he had served the party as a member, district official, central officer and president for 14 years.
In that capacity, he issued a public appeal for corrective action.
"At the very last moment, there must be respect for the rules of democracy."
He called for an election process that is transparent, credible and institutionally sound, arguing that only such a process can restore confidence.
Hope for a way forward
According to Omirou, a transparent and impartial procedure could help create:
"Hope for EDEK's exit from its current dead ends."
The intervention comes only days before the party's internal election on 5 September, amid escalating disputes over voting procedures, polling stations, observers and the broader direction of the party.
