by Costa Constanti
Volt Cyprus held its first Electoral Congress on Sunday to elect its new leadership and Political Council. The newly elected leadership includes Andromache Sophocleous (unopposed) and Panos Parras as Co-Presidents, as well as Lysia Demetriou (unopposed) and Charilaos Velaris as Vice Presidents.
The highest-polling candidate for the Political Council was Turkish Cypriot Hulusi Kilim, who will continue his role as General Secretary. This marks the highest political party position held by a Turkish Cypriot since the community's departure from the Republic’s Parliament 60 years ago. Turkish Cypriots Tarik Tekman and Ipek Gunduz also secured seats, alongside Stelios Stylianou, Panagiotis Charalambous, Pieros Karoullas, Katerina Koni, former Greens Vice President Efi Xanthou, Argyro Nicolaou, Sophia Vassiliou (daughter of former President Giorgos Vassiliou), Marianna Epenetou, Artemios Michael, Natasa Ioannou, Andreas Phylactou, Michalis Christou, Famagusta Municipal Councillor Panayiota Afxentiou Ioannidou, Sotos Syzinos, Melina Limnati, Panayiotis Jacovides, Fimi Hadjigianni, and Fryni Onoufriou Christodoulou.
Together with the Co-Presidents and Vice Presidents, the new Executive Council includes Hulusi Kilim (General Secretary), Andreas Phylactou (Organizational Secretary), Panagiotis Charalambous (Financial Secretary), Panayiotis Jacovides (Secretary of International Affairs), and Pieros Karoullas (Press Representative). In accordance with the party’s statutes, outgoing President Alexandra Attalidou will serve as an ex-officio member due to her position as a Member of Parliament.
Volt Europa’s Co-General Secretary Achille Coenegracht attended the Congress to emphasize Volt Europa’s commitment to supporting Cyprus. During the General Assembly, he announced a €20,000 donation to help solidify Volt Cyprus’s presence in the local political scene. He also announced that outgoing Secretary of International Affairs Rodoula Demetriades has been appointed to the nine-member Volt Europa Council.
It is noteworthy that, although the party’s constitution mandates a minimum of 10 women and 10 men on the 21-seat Political Council to promote gender equality, no adjustments were needed. Voters naturally selected 11 women and 10 men in the first round, making Volt Cyprus the most gender-balanced political party in the history of Cyprus.
