The internal dispute within DEK has entered a new phase after four senior officials publicly levelled a series of allegations against party leader Andreas Themistocleous, including claims of financial opacity, unilateral decision-making, unconstitutional actions and efforts to alter the composition of the party's Political Bureau.
The joint statement was signed by:
- Vice-President Prokopis Prokopiou
- Vice-President Nicos Charalambous
- Secretary-General Marios Thrasyvoulou
- Organising Secretary-General Andreas Sotiriou
The four officials argue that, of the six members of the Political Bureau, one is Themistocleous himself, four disagree with him and the sixth member has abstained, portraying a picture of deep division within the party leadership.
According to the statement, the signatories joined the DEK project on the basis of agreed ideological principles and contributed resources, time and effort to the movement.
They allege, however, that during the final stages of the election campaign they came under attack from paid associates or individuals close to the party leader against what they say Themistocleous referred to as the party's "Supreme Leadership", namely the Political Bureau.
The four contend that these attacks were an attempt to shift responsibility for the party's electoral performance and claim that individuals who had previously remained in the background began publicly disparaging and undermining them.
Financial management and donation receipt books at the centre of dispute
According to the joint statement, tensions intensified when what the officials describe as inaccurate financial information began circulating.
Particular emphasis is placed on three donation receipt books, the originals of which the signatories say they do not intend to hand over to Themistocleous.
They argue that if it is ultimately determined that mistakes were not accidental but deliberate, the original documents should be handed directly to the Auditor-General, rather than risk being lost because of another "mistake".
The four state that digital copies of all relevant documents have already been sent both to Themistocleous and to Loizos Kallouris, who, according to them, was appointed by the party leader to handle DEK's accounting affairs.
They further claim that DEK never appointed a finance director and say that since 25 May they have repeatedly sought information on how party funds were spent.
According to their allegations, no answers have been provided three months later.
Dispute over August meetings
The signatories also refer to events leading up to a meeting on 7 August.
They say a prior telephone discussion indicated that a meeting could take place on 6 August, with the participation of most members of the Political Bureau and the accountant appointed by Themistocleous himself.
According to the statement, Themistocleous initially attempted to move the meeting to 11 August before unilaterally fixing it for 7 August, a date on which, they claim, none of the officials concerned could attend.
They argue that even if Themistocleous was unavailable on 6 August, he could have submitted receipts in writing or referred the matter to the party accountant.
The four officials maintain that the failure to brief the three vice-presidents, the secretary-general and the organising secretary on the party's finances raises serious questions.
Allegations of an €8,000 debt
The signatories also refer to a meeting held on 15 June, during which, they say, Themistocleous was asked to explain the handling of party funds.
According to their account, the party leader stated verbally that money had been used, among other things, for food and drink hospitality expenses.
They further allege that Themistocleous reversed an earlier position regarding a €4,000 donation deposited into DEK's bank account.
According to the four officials, it was initially stated that the donation would be used to cover nomination fees for individuals unable or unwilling to pay them personally.
They claim that Themistocleous later argued the money had been his own personal funds and that the nomination fees had been paid through other means.
Based on discussions during the 15 June meeting, the four officials allege that approximately €8,000 in debt was created without the approval of the Political Bureau.
They state that a decision had been taken not to incur debt and that the election campaign would be conducted solely with available funds.
The statement also references other allegedly unconstitutional actions, although the signatories do not specify them in detail, instead referring to meeting minutes and witness accounts from the 15 June meeting and other sessions.
Alleged attempt to alter the Political Bureau
According to the four officials, efforts began after the 15 June meeting to change the composition of the Political Bureau through private and confidential correspondence with the Registrar of Political Parties.
They argue that the bureau's composition had been established when the party was registered and subsequently confirmed by a certificate dated 6 August 2025, and that it had never been challenged before 15 June 2026.
They also raise questions about whether Themistocleous received €500 from Therapon Anastasios in November 2025.
According to the statement, this issue was raised on 30 June 2026, which they note was the deadline for publishing 2025 donations on the party's website.
Questions over hospitality expenses
The signatories also object to expenses which they claim are being charged to DEK.
Among those mentioned are restaurant and hospitality bills which they say were never approved by the Political Bureau.
They state that in some cases where they were present, each participant paid his or her own share, while receipts were allegedly collected by Themistocleous.
As a result, they question why, in their view, efforts are being made in cooperation with the accountant and individuals close to the party leader to record these expenditures as DEK expenses.
Disagreement over founding conference
The statement also criticises the continued postponement of DEK's founding conference.
The four officials place responsibility solely on Themistocleous, arguing that the process has been repeatedly delayed since the creation of the movement.
They note that as long as DEK remains in a transitional phase, responsibility rests with the Political Bureau because both its members and the party leader remain appointed rather than elected.
In that context, they express concern that liabilities which they consider personal to Themistocleous could be transferred to DEK and, by extension, to other members of the Political Bureau.
They also point to a deadline of 24 September, arguing that it will have to be determined whether the disputed expenses are recognised as Political Bureau decisions or treated as private and unilateral actions by the party leader.
Public call for financial disclosure
The four officials publicly call on Themistocleous to provide the financial information they have requested, even if only in writing.
They also request the presence of the party accountant and claim to have information suggesting that the accountant believes Themistocleous instructed him on what should be presented, including during the meeting of 7 August.
Prokopiou, Charalambous, Thrasyvoulou and Sotiriou say they intend to prepare their own financial statement separating expenses they regard as approved Political Bureau decisions from what they describe as unilateral actions by the party leader that should not be attributed to DEK.
They are also awaiting a response to a letter dated 7 August 2026 addressed to the Interior Ministry's Director-General, the Registrar of Political Parties and other competent authorities, before proceeding with steps provided for under the party constitution.
Their statement concludes:
"Transparency is not a slogan. It is an obligation. And when someone has nothing to hide, they are not afraid to present the facts."
