EDEK party members vote for new leader

Members of the EDEK party in Cyprus are heading to the polls today, September 5, 2026, to elect a new leader. The race for the presidency involves three candidates: Sofia Christodoulou-Makri, Kyriakos (Koulis) Mavronikolas, and Giorgos Kouttoukis. Initially, four candidates were confirmed, but Marios Hannidis withdrew his candidacy to support Koulis Mavronikolas. Voting stations are open from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. across all free provinces of Cyprus, as well as in Tillyria, Athens, Thessaloniki, and London.

This election follows a period of internal tension and the historically poor result in the May parliamentary elections, which left the party without seats in the House of Representatives and triggered the resignation of former leader Nikos Anastasiou. Approximately 8,000 members are eligible to vote, with turnout estimated at around 2,000. To win in the first round, a candidate must secure 50% plus one vote; otherwise, a runoff election will be held. The newly elected president will serve a transitional role, tasked with guiding the party toward the December electoral congress and navigating its future strategy.