Walkout at Paphos municipal council meeting over internal policy disputes

On the evening of Monday, July 27, 2026, the plenary session of the Paphos Municipal Council ended abruptly after municipal groups from DIKO, AKEL, EDEK, and ELAM walked out in protest. The mass exit followed tensions regarding the approval of municipal service plans, specifically the traffic service requirements, where a majority voted for an 18-year service prerequisite for promotions, contradicting the minority's push for 16 years.

Beyond the specific vote, the departing groups cited ongoing offensive behavior and verbal attacks from colleagues. Furthermore, DIKO alleged that the DISY municipal group and the acting mayor attempted to push through amendments regarding the position of Sergeant that appeared to benefit a specific employee. This prompted a public exchange of statements between the political factions, with DIKO criticizing the targeting of staff and DISY defending its stance. The incident reflects deeper political instability within the council that has reportedly persisted since the suspension of Paphos Mayor Phaidon Phaidonos.