EDEK faces internal turmoil ahead of statutory congress

The EDEK party is experiencing significant internal friction just days before its statutory congress, scheduled for October 25, 2026. Eleven members of the party’s political bureau sent a letter to party president Sofia Christodoulou Makri on October 20, accusing her of authoritarian behavior, circumventing institutional procedures, and disregarding the party's statutes. The dispute escalated after Makri postponed a scheduled October 19 meeting of the political bureau, citing a need to review the members' grievances. The dissidents also raised concerns regarding the party's dire financial situation, recent layoffs of professional staff, and questions about potential cooperation with AKEL.

Following its exclusion from parliament, EDEK is undergoing severe financial restructuring, including a reduction of staff from 19 to 11 employees. The upcoming statutory congress is intended to be a fresh start for the party, involving the return of expelled figures such as Costis Efstathiou and Demetris Papadakis. The party is also planning an electoral congress for December to finalize its future leadership and direction. Despite the criticism, the party leadership maintains that all procedures are being followed and insists that members should present their proposals directly at the congress. Critics, however, argue that the congress is invalid due to the alleged breach of internal democratic processes.