Sofia Christodoulou Makri elected EDEK president and announces reinstatement of expelled members

On September 5, 2026, 27-year-old lawyer Sofia Christodoulou Makri was elected president of the socialist party EDEK. Her election is considered historic, as she is the first woman to lead the party and the youngest leader of a traditional Cypriot political entity. The party, which has historically maintained conservative internal structures, saw 53% of participants in the electoral process vote for Makri, signaling a demand for change after 56 years of parliamentary history and the party's recent failure to secure a parliamentary seat.

Following her election, the new leadership took immediate action to address internal divisions. A five-member Committee for Membership Records and Conference Coordination, appointed by the party's Extraordinary Pancyprian Congress, unanimously decided to unconditionally lift all previous expulsions. Former members are now eligible to return, provided those who joined other political entities first resign from their current affiliations. Former MEP Dimitris Papadakis has expressed support for this new direction, emphasizing the need for financial audits and the modernization of membership records.

Makri now faces significant challenges, including stabilizing the party's finances following the loss of state funding and restoring trust among members. The party is preparing for a Statutory Congress in October and further internal elections scheduled for December.