EDEK party leadership elections marred by internal conflict and financial concerns

The EDEK party is preparing for presidential elections on September 5, 2026, amid intense internal friction. The conflict centers on disagreements regarding electoral procedures, specifically the Central Electoral Committee's proposal to allow candidate observers at polling stations and the selection of voting venues. Candidate Koulis Mavronikolas has publicly opposed these measures, arguing he lacks representation in the committee, while other factions support the transparency measures. Meanwhile, two committee members, Giannis Anastasiou and Michalis Theodoulou, have raised concerns about procedural irregularities and deviations from the committee's unanimous decisions.

Adding to the instability, party officials have warned of a severe liquidity crisis, stating that the organization faces a risk of being unable to meet its financial obligations after October. Despite the ongoing tension, the party leadership announced that voting will proceed as planned based on decisions from the July 30 Central Committee meeting. Polling stations will operate in Cyprus, Athens, Thessaloniki, and London between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Voters must present identification and pay a 10-euro membership fee, with eligibility based on the 2015-2025 member register.