Green party in spat over member’s active support for Mavroyiannis (Updated)

Green party member Efi Xanthou’s decision to actively support Andreas Mavroyiannis’ candidacy in the presidential elections has prompted in-house problems after a colleague filed a complaint against her.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail, Green party leader Charalambos Theopemptou confirmed the spat but said “it is disappointing that these differences had to be aired publicly.”

The Green party has left support of a presidential candidate up to individuals and is not supporting a particular candidate.

Xanthou, along with Green’s MP Alexandra Attalidou have publicly announced their support for Mavroyiannis in next February’s elections.

“There is a difference between supporting a candidate and being an active member of their campaign group,” Theopemtou said.

It appears the issue with Xanthou lies in the latter – she is actively campaigning ifor Mavroyiannis.

Xanthou said she had not been formally notified of the complaint and thus could not comment on the issue.

The complaint was filed at the party’s Nicosia district level bureau and thus, will be settled there, Theopemptou said.

The Green party voted on October 23 to see who it would back for presidential candidate, but none of the candidates managed to obtain 60 per cent of votes during a secret ballot by members.

The most votes were garnered by independent candidate Mavroyiannis with 41 per cent, followed by Nikos Christodoulides with 25 per cent, Achilleas Demetriades and George Kolokasides with 16 per cent, while two per cent cast blank votes.

Citing article 10 of the party’s statute, Xanthou notes every member has the right to publicly differentiate themselves from the party position if it has the agreement of the collective body which took the decision.

The crux of her argument is the part of the article which says: “or if it is an opinion which is backed by at least 40 per cent of the party.”

Considering Mavroyiannis garnered 41 per cent of the votes, Xanthou believes there is no issue over what she did.

She also cites article 53 of the party’s statute, which states only the electoral assembly can take decisions. As the party had no official stance, there is no restriction on party members to declare their support and work for a presidential candidate of their choice.