A district court in Limassol is expected to rule within days on an application filed by MP Nikos Sykas, who is seeking to overturn his removal from the Democratic Rally (DISY) party ballot ahead of the May parliamentary elections.
The case has taken on urgency, as the party’s supreme council is scheduled to meet on 28 February to formally ratify its candidate lists, in line with its statute. The court has indicated that a decision on the interim application must be issued before that date.
Objection filed by DISY
DISY has formally objected to Sykas’ request for an interim annulment order suspending the party’s decision to exclude him from the Limassol ballot.
The legal action forms part of a broader civil lawsuit filed by the MP against his party following his removal, which came after a complaint was lodged against him alleging assault of his partner.
Last week, Sykas’ lawyer, Christos Pourgourides, submitted the request for an annulment order. During a brief court appearance on Tuesday, DISY was represented by lawyer Maria Yiatridou, appearing on behalf of Christos Triantafyllides. The party argued that the application was premature and requested time to file a formal objection.
The President of the Limassol District Court instructed DISY to submit its written objection by 20 February. The hearing has been scheduled for 24 February at 9:30 am, with written submissions from both sides. The applicant has also been granted the right to file a supplementary affidavit by the same date.
The ruling will concern only the interim annulment request, not the main civil lawsuit, which will proceed through the regular judicial process.
Grounds of the lawsuit
In his lawsuit, Sykas argues that the party’s political bureau acted unlawfully and incorrectly in permanently excluding him from the ballot.
He maintains that the decision violated the party’s statute and that he was not given the opportunity to present his position. He further argues that he is not currently facing criminal charges and that no punitive action should be imposed before the matter is adjudicated in court, should it proceed to that stage.
File under review at Legal Service
Although more than 40 days have passed since the initial complaint was filed by the MP’s partner, which was subsequently withdrawn, the case file remains under review by the Legal Service.
The file includes the original complaint, the later withdrawal statement, and the investigative testimony taken from Sykas following the lifting of his parliamentary immunity by the Supreme Court.
The Legal Service is expected to decide whether a criminal case will ultimately be filed.
The court’s ruling next week will determine whether Sykas’ name can remain under consideration before DISY formally finalises its ballot.