EDEK is heading to the polls to elect a new party leader under a cloud of controversy over the conduct of the electoral process.
The party's press office announced on Monday that voting would proceed on the basis of the unanimous decisions adopted by the Central Committee on 30 July, avoiding any reference to the recommendations submitted by the Central Electoral Committee, which had proposed a number of measures aimed at safeguarding transparency and impartiality during the election process, including the presence of observers inside polling stations.
The press office announcement prompted a strong reaction from two of the four members of the Central Electoral Committee, who complained that the body's unanimous recommendations had not been taken into account.
Giannis Anastasiou and Michalis Theodoulou questioned whether proper minutes existed for the Central Committee's decisions, arguing that some issues had either not been discussed at all or had been decided differently.
It is worth noting that the Central Electoral Committee contacted all three candidates in order to present its unanimous recommendations.
According to information obtained by Politis, Giorgos Koutoukis and Sophia Christodoulou Makri accepted the recommendations, while Koullis Mavronikolas informed the committee chairman that he disagreed with the presence of observers in polling stations and with the proposed polling centres, stressing that if the proposals were adopted he would submit an objection.
Mavronikolas subsequently made a public statement, accusing others of attempting to mislead party members.
Omirou intervenes
Former EDEK president Yiannakis Omirou also criticised the decision to prohibit candidate observers from being present at polling stations.
He spoke of an attempt to undermine transparency rules and create obstacles to the free expression of the will of EDEK members, arguing that the election process suffers from serious shortcomings.
Omirou further claimed that polling centres had been abolished and that voting venues had been selected in a manner that would make participation more difficult rather than easier for party members.
Questions raised
Presidential candidate Sophia Christodoulou Makri expressed similar concerns.
In comments to CyBC, she questioned why some individuals were opposed to having observers inside polling stations.
She also directed criticism at EDEK deputy president Morphakis, alleging that he was conducting a separate process arbitrarily, bypassing the Central Electoral Committee and intervening in a role that did not belong to him.
In addition, she asked:
"Why, just five days before the elections, have they not provided me with the membership register when I have requested it four times?"
"Nobody asked me"
Speaking yesterday on the Second Look radio programme broadcast by Politis 107.6 and 97.6, Mavronikolas said he does not participate in the party's collective bodies and was never asked to nominate individuals to serve on electoral committees.
He stressed that the other two candidates had submitted names and were represented on the electoral committees.
He added that, had he been given the opportunity, he would also have submitted names.
"The procedures must be followed and they must be transparent so that the result is not called into question," he said.
Mavronikolas nevertheless stated that he has complete confidence in the party's democratic procedures.
