By Constantinos Psillides
MARINOS Sizopoulos was elected head of socialist party EDEK on Sunday, defeating his opponent Giorgos Varnava in special election held to replace former leader Yiannakis Omirou.
Sizopoulos won with 60 per cent of the vote – 2,519 votes – while Varnava trailed with 833 votes less.
In a development that could spell a major rift in the party, neither Varnava nor any other party MP was present during Sizopoulos’ inauguration ceremony.
“I think those that are absent are the ones who have to comment,” said Sizopoulos when asked by reporters to comment on the absence of the MPs.
Following a Monday visit to the home of party founder and honorary president Dr Vassos Lyssarides, Sizopoulos said that there is no rift in the party’s base and that disagreements in the higher echelons can be resolved. “There is goodwill on both sides. That’s something you will get to witness over the coming days,” he said.
Lyssarides, however, was more blunt, saying “unfortunate incidents sometime leads to great, joyous happenings”.
“This is why I believe that this minor electoral conflict, that is completely understandable during campaigns, will give us a party that is more united and more ready to play its role as dictated by its historic past. I’m sure that the new party leadership can cope with all challenges laid ahead,” he said.
Roulla Mavronikola, Nicos Nicolaides, Giorgos Varnava and Fidias Sarikas have yet to issue a statement explaining their absence.
While the rest could have political motivation, Sarikas’ absence is most probably related to the fact that he is embroiled in the Paphos Sewerage Board scandal, a criminal case that saw government officials receiving bribes to secure contracts for construction companies.
Acting as the president of the parliament, MP Yiannakis Omirou issued a statement on Monday congratulating the new leader of EDEK.
“The election for new party leader has come to an end. I congratulate Marinos Sizopoulos on his victory and wish him all the best. Party unity is a requirement, if the party is to continue its national, political and social role,” read the short statement.
It should be noted that the statement makes it clear that Omirou is acting as president of the parliament and not as a party MP.
Omirou stepped down as party leader in January, claiming that he was being constantly undermined by some within the party.
Barely 50 per cent of party members bothered to vote. Asked on Sunday to comment on the low turnout, Sizopoulos stated that the highest turnout was actually the highest “for any party election since 2001.”
“Personally, I’m not absolutely pleased and I would like the turnout to be higher. We will do what is possible to get back EDEK’s fighting spirit,” he said.
Sizopoulos will remain party leader for the next 18 months, when the party electoral convention will be held.
