As Cyprus heads into parliamentary elections in just eight months, and with the island ranked lowest in the EU for women’s representation, Politis to the Point continues its series of testimonies and interviews giving women the floor, pressing political parties to move beyond promises and token gestures toward genuine structural change and equality.
Despite established and growing evidence that women’s leadership in political decision-making improves outcomes, only six countries worldwide have reached gender parity in parliament. Cyprus is certainly not among them: with just 14 per cent female MPs, it ranks lowest in Europe. Yet the Speaker of the House of Representatives is a woman, and not just any woman, Annita Demetriou, born in October 1985, is also the leader of the opposition.
Demetriou insists her rise to the two highest offices in Cypriot politics is not symbolic. She points out that milestones matter, but what matters most is delivering measurable outcomes. An advocate of quotas, she has introduced measures in the House to support women, stressing that responsibility must translate into action. The 2026 elections will be the real test: whether parties, including her own, will finally put more women on their lists.
But she is no stranger to the contradictions of the system she leads. The recent withdrawal of her party’s only openly LGBT candidate and a rare diverse voice from the forthcoming ballot underlined the delicate balancing act she performs between a conservative party base and the demands of modern politics. At the same time, she has been subjected to criticism often couched in sexist undertones: that she is too blonde, too young, too small, that her party under her leadership lacks gravitas. Such shallow comments usually follow women in leadership. But the question remains: how can a woman succeed in her own right, and what sacrifices does it take to transform visibility into substance? At the end of the day, Demetriou is still at the helm.
DISY’s Gender Test
Demetriou insists that her own rise reflects deeper roots within her party. “Regarding the Democratic Rally, I feel compelled to emphasise that our party has always been the leading force championing women’s political participation,” she says. She points to the most recent term in government, when women served as ministers, deputy ministers and state commissioners, producing results that strengthened economic growth and social cohesion. Within DISY today, women occupy leadership roles across the party, and its MPs, she argues, are recognised for their forward-looking mindset and achievements. “With a woman at the helm of DISY for the first time in our history, we can say with confidence that our party’s broad base across Cyprus embraces gender equality and evaluates every politician on merit,” she adds.
Women’s Place in 2026
Turning to the concrete issue of representation, Demetriou acknowledges the inadequacy of Cyprus’ current record. “My election does not by itself resolve this, but it creates a responsibility and a mandate to lead by example, to inspire more women to participate, and to deliver change through whatever reforms are necessary to further encourage participation.”
With parliamentary elections on the horizon, she points out that DISY is in the process of preparing its candidate lists for 2026. The process, she insists, is open and transparent, with accomplished women actively taking part across all districts. “We are pleased to have distinguished women from a broad professional and social spectrum, and I am confident that, alongside our male candidates, they will be honoured by the electorate.”
She is equally clear about her own position on quotas: “Personally, I have always been a supporter of quotas for women’s and youth participation in DISY’s candidate lists for European, parliamentary and local council elections. Similar provisions apply to our Political Bureau and District Secretariat boards. As I mentioned earlier, our commitment to an inclusive and participatory political life in Cyprus must be an ongoing effort if we are to achieve our goals.”
Responsibility and Reform
For Demetriou, leadership also means responsibility beyond party structures. “This is a political responsibility that I have acknowledged since I was first elected as a Member of Parliament,” she says. “And now, as President of the House of Representatives, I consider it an even greater responsibility.”
She lists legislative and policy steps already taken: supporting the National Strategy for Gender Equality, ratifying the Istanbul Convention, and submitting a bill to amend the Constitution to strengthen equality provisions. Through the Recovery and Resilience Plan, measures have been introduced to support women’s entrepreneurship and training, especially in technology and communications. Maternity leave has been extended to 22 weeks, with DISY pushing for 26, while work continues on childcare structures, work-life balance, reintegration of mothers into the workforce, and the elimination of pay inequalities. “When we speak about responsibility, we must also act,” she says pointedly.
Mentorship and Visibility
Her approach also includes mentorship and visibility. She points to the first structured internship programme in parliament, designed to give young women direct exposure to parliamentary work; job-shadowing initiatives on International Women’s Day; and the creation of a nursing room in parliament for working mothers. She also highlights the appointment of a gender liaison officer, as well as ongoing collaboration with women’s organisations, business groups and trade unions. “Their role in enhancing women’s leadership is pivotal, and we see them as reliable and dedicated partners in our efforts to draft, amend, approve and enact legislation.”
Politics in the Shadow of Sexism
Inevitably, the conversation turns to the barriers that remain. Demetriou does not deny that sexism continues to cast a shadow over political life. Some incidents directed at her are well known, others more recent. “Such behaviour has come from both political opponents and anonymous social-media accounts,” she explains. “Above all, these attacks reveal a profound inability to formulate and express an honest political argument. Unfortunately, there remain those who cannot tolerate women in senior political positions; nevertheless, our response must stay rooted in our principles, ideas and convictions. Our political discourse must be well structured and consistent, and we should persist in democratic dialogue without fear”.
A Collective Task
She also underscores the importance of recognising the achievements of women MPs across the political spectrum. During the current term, she says, they have excelled in their parliamentary work and represented the House with distinction in international forums, from the Council of Europe and the OSCE to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Several serve as committee chairs with particularly productive mandates. “Their work shows that when women are given the space, they deliver,” she says.
Elections 2026
As the campaign intensifies, Annita Demetriou knows the weight of expectation rests on her shoulders. Her rise may be historic, but she insists that symbolism must give way to structural change. She has supported quotas, introduced institutional measures to empower women, and spoken openly about the responsibility of leadership. But, as she herself acknowledges, the decisive test will come with the 2026 candidate lists, whether they confirm that the rhetoric of equality is finally matched by the reality of women’s representation.
For Demetriou, the task is not simply to embody a breakthrough but to ensure that Cyprus begins to close the gender gap and move toward the democratic society that “we deserve.”