AKEL party withdraws from Cyprus Forum 2026

On September 27, 2026, the General Secretary of the AKEL party, Stefanos Stefanou, officially announced that he and other party officials would not participate in the Cyprus Forum 2026. This decision was communicated to the organizers following an escalation of public tension surrounding the event, specifically regarding the participation of Turkish Cypriot politician Mehmet Harmanci.

The controversy began when the political party ELAM demanded the withdrawal of the invitation extended to Harmanci, citing objections over how his professional status was presented in the event's agenda. Although the organizers clarified they would not rescind the invitation, the debate led to significant fallout. Mehmet Harmanci subsequently withdrew from the event, and the Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Prountzos, also departed in a gesture of solidarity. In its official statement, AKEL explicitly linked its absence to the current political climate, asserting that "the hysterical rhetoric of the far-right cannot determine the public discourse in our country.

This sequence of events marks a significant withdrawal of political support for the forum. At present, the forum proceeds without the involvement of AKEL representatives, reflecting deep polarization regarding the event's inclusion of controversial speakers and the influence of far-right narratives on public proceedings.