Datis Kalali withdraws his candidacy for the 2026 Cyprus parliamentary elections

Datis Kalali, a candidate for the Cyprus Green Party, has announced his intention to withdraw from the 2026 parliamentary elections. The 24-year-old medical student stated that his candidacy led to personal difficulties, including an eviction from his residence which left him and his mother briefly homeless. Kalali reported receiving threats and has filed a complaint with the police. In 2018, the Cypriot government granted him and his mother honorary citizenship due to his achievements in mathematical olympiads. Currently, he resides in a shelter and is experiencing financial hardship. The General Returning Officer, Dr. Elikkos A. Ilias, confirmed that an email request for withdrawal has been received, but a formal letter is required to finalize the process. Officials noted that the election ballot cannot be changed at this stage due to time constraints.