A fresh internal dispute has erupted within EDEK after EDEK Youth Secretary-General Andri Demetriou Steka publicly called on Sofia Christodoulou Makri to resign as president of the youth organisation.
In a written statement, Steka said developments following the parliamentary elections had revealed behaviour that, in her view, was incompatible with party comradeship and had placed "the interests of EDEK in second place".
Criticism of Christodoulou Makri
Steka criticised Christodoulou Makri over her bid for the party presidency, claiming that she bypassed the collective bodies of EDEK Youth and did not seek the support of the organisation's officials for her candidacy.
She also argued that Christodoulou Makri created the impression that EDEK Youth collectively backed her leadership bid.
At the same time, Steka alleged that the youth president had effectively abandoned the organisation's operation, pointing to what she described as a period of inactivity at a time when preparations should be intensifying ahead of the new academic year.
"Given that she is not adequately carrying out her duties and is not fulfilling her role, I call on fellow member Sofia Christodoulou Makri to submit her resignation from the position of President of EDEK Youth," Steka said.
Backing for Mavronicolas
In the same statement, Steka announced her support for Koullis Mavronicolas in the race for the EDEK presidency.
She described him as the candidate who possesses the experience, knowledge and determination needed to address the party's challenges.
Appeal for unity
Despite the criticism, Steka also appealed for unity within EDEK.
She argued that the party needs the mobilisation of all its members and an end to the internal divisions that, in her view, have damaged the organisation in recent years.
"EDEK does not belong to individuals, groups or mechanisms. It belongs to its people, its struggles and its principles," she said.
She also urged party members to give Mavronicolas a "clear mandate" in the upcoming internal party elections.
