Strovolos deputy mayor criticizes former mayor before elections

Stella Sourmeli, the deputy mayor of Strovolos, has publicly criticized the former mayor and current ELAM parliamentary candidate, Andreas Papacharalambous, seven days before the parliamentary elections. The dispute arose following a video posted by Papacharalambous at the Strovolos People's Market, where he claimed to have left a significant legacy of a more humane and functional city. Sourmeli rejected these claims, arguing that the citizens chose not to re-elect him for a reason. She emphasized that public criticism of a candidate's record is a duty to the voters, not a personal attack. She specifically questioned why the former mayor did not highlight projects on Tseriou Street or the historical core of Strovolos in his promotional materials. Sourmeli stated that a city's development is judged by tangible results, transparency, and consistency, rather than campaign slogans and videos. Papacharalambous maintains that his work constitutes a legitimate political legacy, while Sourmeli insists that voters remain the ultimate judges of his performance and credibility.