AKEL has decided to remove MP Irene Charalambidou from its parliamentary group, according to information emerging from a telephone conversation held on Monday. The decision follows prolonged discussions between the party leadership and the MP regarding the future of their political cooperation ahead of the next parliamentary elections.
Decision following leadership contact
According to initial information, AKEL will formally place Irene Charalambidou outside its parliamentary group. The development follows a telephone communication between the party’s General Secretary, Stefanos Stefanou, and Ms Charalambidou earlier today.
The same sources indicate that AKEL will also request that Ms Charalambidou step down from her position as Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights.
Background to the internal dialogue
Mr Stefanou had been engaged in dialogue with the MP in recent months to explore possible forms of continued political cooperation after the parliamentary elections. Ms Charalambidou is not eligible to stand again as a candidate on the AKEL ticket due to the party’s term limits as set out in its statute.
Discontent reportedly arose over AKEL’s decision to grant exemptions from the term limit rule only to certain MPs holding senior positions within the party hierarchy.
Meetings and rejected proposal
A first meeting between the two sides took place on 3 September, during which the AKEL General Secretary proposed the creation of an Anti-Corruption Observatory headed by Ms Charalambidou. The MP rejected the proposal, stating that an observatory operating under a party umbrella would not be able to obtain information from institutions and therefore could not exercise effective oversight.
A second meeting was held last Wednesday at AKEL’s offices. During that meeting, Ms Charalambidou made clear that her rejection of the proposal was final and irreversible. Mr Stefanou asked her to provide final answers by Monday, 9 February.
Public statements and political contacts
The second meeting followed public statements by Ms Charalambidou in which she said she was inclined to seek re-election to the House of Representatives. She also did not rule out the possibility of standing in the parliamentary elections on the ticket of ALMA.
These statements prompted concern within the AKEL leadership, leading Mr Stefanou to request further clarification through renewed contact.
According to information, Mr Stefanou made it clear that it is not possible for an MP to remain within AKEL while simultaneously holding discussions with another political formation regarding electoral cooperation.
Contacts with ALMA leadership
Following last Wednesday’s meeting, Ms Charalambidou stated publicly that she had received a telephone call from Odysseas Michaelides, leader of ALMA, who requested a meeting to discuss the possibility of cooperation.
She said she informed Mr Michaelides that her schedule was full in the coming days due to overseas travel and that a meeting could take place towards the end of February.
Pending formal announcements
According to information from Politis, a formal announcement by AKEL’s Political Bureau is expected tomorrow regarding the outcome of discussions with Ms Charalambidou and the party’s final decisions.
A party source told Politis that AKEL had exhausted all possibilities for continuing political cooperation with Ms Charalambidou, noting that she did not submit any counter-proposal despite being invited to suggest an alternative to the plan she had rejected.
Charalambidou awaiting decisions
In statements to Politis, Ms Charalambidou confirmed that she had a telephone conversation today with Mr Stefanou, during which she was informed that a Political Bureau announcement would be issued.
“I am awaiting the decisions of the Political Bureau,” she said, adding that she would respond accordingly once those decisions are made.
