Senior EDEK figures appear to be in a combative mood following the party's poor performance in the parliamentary elections and just weeks before its extraordinary Pancyprian Congress.
A fierce confrontation is currently unfolding within EDEK over the 5 September election for a new party president following the resignation of Nikos Anastasiou. The dispute centres on which faction will ultimately control the party.
The new president will lead EDEK into a constitutional congress and, immediately afterwards, into ideological-political and electoral conferences before the end of the year.
There are four candidates:
- Kyriakos Mavronikolas
- Marios Hannides
- Giorgos Kouttoukis
- Sophia Christodoulou Makri
Christodoulou Makri, who serves as president of EDEK's youth organisation, is facing objections to her candidacy. Some party members claim that, under the party constitution, she is not entitled to contest the presidency because she has not completed the required number of years as a party member.
She maintains that she fulfils the requirements of the relevant constitutional provision and has submitted evidence which, she says, proves her continuous presence and activity within the party.
Horses and absurdities
Matters have reached breaking point.
According to EDEK officials who spoke to Politis on condition of anonymity, supporters of Kyriakos Mavronikolas have been claiming that they possess a membership application submitted by Sophia Christodoulou Makri in 2024.
According to one EDEK insider, veteran party figure Doros Theodorou telephoned Mavronikolas and asked him to stop what he described as a campaign against Sophia, allow a normal electoral process to take place without exclusions and ensure that, whoever is elected, all sides unite behind the winner so that the party can emerge from its internal divisions.
Mavronikolas' candidacy is backed by current EDEK deputy president Morfakis Solomidous, who served as Mavronikolas' driver when the latter was Minister of Defence.
It remains something of a mystery, however, why Solomidous himself is not seeking the EDEK presidency, given that he had reportedly coveted the position for a long time.
Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that he is no longer on speaking terms with his former ally, ex-EDEK president Marinos Sizopoulos, who is backing a different horse in this race, namely Giorgos Kouttoukis.
The coffers are in deficit
An EDEK official told Politis, on condition of anonymity, that tens of thousands of euros are currently missing from the party's coffers.
The source stressed that the deficit is not attributed to Nikos Anastasiou.
According to the same source, certain individuals are making every effort to avoid a financial audit of the party.
This is despite the fact that EDEK's Extraordinary Pancyprian Congress on 5 July 2026 decided, among other things, that:
"A financial audit should be conducted by an independent auditing firm and an expert should be appointed to undertake the restructuring and redesign of the party on the basis of the new financial realities."
"Re-forwarded"
As for the discovery of cheques that allegedly appear to have been issued from a party chequebook to then EDEK financial director Giorgos Kouttoukis, the case remains under police investigation.
Following Politis' publication of the matter in 2021, Kouttoukis submitted his resignation.
A complaint was filed with police by an EDEK member who had participated in the party's investigative committee examining the newspaper reports.
According to that investigation, serious offences were found to have been committed.
The complaint alleges that Kouttoukis issued party cheques on three separate occasions, totalling €29,625, in order to cover personal obligations.
According to information obtained by Politis, the case was re-forwarded in early March 2025 so that it could be sent to the Legal Service for examination and instructions.
Then, only a few weeks ago, in mid-July, the case was once again re-forwarded for submission to the Legal Service for examination and instructions.
Hold it right there
Finally, an intriguing story is reportedly circulating in EDEK corridors concerning the actions of a senior party figure closely linked to one of the current presidential candidates.
The story concerns alleged efforts to secure a deferment of military service and prevent the son of another EDEK figure, who currently holds a position appointed by the President of the Republic, from being declared a draft evader.
The senior figure allegedly involved in the intervention at the Ministry of Defence did not respond to attempts by Politis to contact him.
Nevertheless, the incident appears to have been corroborated by reliable sources within the Ministry of Defence.
