Cabinet appointment of Elam member to youth board sparks controversy

On September 10, 2026, the Cypriot Cabinet, led by President Nikos Christodoulides, appointed a new board of directors for the Youth Board of Cyprus (Onek). The appointment of Zafiro Kastanou, a former Elam parliamentary candidate for the Famagusta district, has drawn significant criticism from Edon, the youth wing of the Akel party.

The new board structure includes Pampos Christodoulou as president and Thanos Christodoulou as vice president. The board members consist of Zafiro Kastanou, Stavros Sotiriou, and Iakovos Iakovou, with Alexandros Gerolatsiitis and Fotis Tripakkiros remaining in their positions. Kastanou’s political background is notable, as she was a successful candidate for the Agia Napa School Board with the Disy party in 2024 before resigning in May 2025 citing ideological reasons and later joining Elam.

Edon stated that the appointment undermines Onek's mission to promote democracy, tolerance, and respect for diversity, emphasizing that the organization must maintain a bicommunal character in the context of a divided nation. The government's action follows a period of dysfunction within the board caused by the resignation of three previous members, which had prevented the body from meeting.