The Democratic Rally (DISY) has removed Limassol MP Nikos Sykas from its electoral ballot following a complaint of alleged assault filed against him by a woman, party president Annita Demetriou announced late on Sunday.
In a public post on social media, Demetriou said the MP was being excluded from the ballot and stressed that she considers the voluntary waiver of parliamentary immunity to be necessary. She underlined that there is zero tolerance for allegations of violence, particularly violence against women, adding that while the party fully respects the justice system and the presumption of innocence, the investigation must proceed immediately and without ambiguity. She also said that violence contradicts the values DISY stands for and described these principles as non-negotiable.
Ως Πρόεδρος του ΔΗΣΥ, δηλώνω με απόλυτη σαφήνεια ότι δεν υπάρχει καμία ανοχή σε καταγγελίες βίας.
— Annita Demetriou (@AnnitaDemetriou) January 4, 2026
Σεβόμαστε πλήρως τη Δικαιοσύνη και το τεκμήριο της αθωότητας, όμως η διερεύνηση πρέπει να γίνει άμεσα και χωρίς σκιές. Θεωρώ απαραίτητη την αυτόβουλη αποποίηση της ασυλίας.…
The announcement came as police confirmed that the case file concerning a complaint of alleged physical assault and causing actual bodily harm will be forwarded to the Legal Service on Monday for examination. The alleged incident is reported to have taken place abroad during the New Year period. The investigation is ongoing.
Statement by the MP
Following the public disclosure of the complaint, Nikos Sykas issued a statement on social media in which he categorically denied the allegations and any insinuations made against him.
He said he was deeply troubled that details of an unexamined complaint had been leaked to the media, leading to public judgement before any testimony had been assessed or before he had been called to give his own account.
Despite this, he stated that he fully respects the investigative process and is ready at any time to present the facts as he sees them, while reserving all his legal rights.
What parliamentary immunity means in Cyprus
In Cyprus, Members of Parliament serve in the House of Representatives and are protected by parliamentary immunity while in office. This constitutional safeguard is intended to protect the independence of elected lawmakers and prevent politically motivated prosecutions, but it does not place MPs above the law.
For criminal proceedings to be initiated against a sitting MP, the Attorney General must submit a formal request to the Supreme Court seeking the lifting of that immunity. Without the Supreme Court’s approval, an MP cannot be prosecuted, arrested, or detained during their term in office.
The Legal Service will now study the case file to determine whether further legal steps will be taken, including whether such a request to lift parliamentary immunity is warranted.