Perdikis to Greens: ‘for God’s sake talk to me’ during disagreements (Updated)

Giorgos Perdikis has told Green Party members “for God’s sake come and talk to me about it” if they have a problem with how the party is being run under his leadership.

Perdikis was elected for the second time as Green Party leader on Sunday, winning 204 votes, directly addressed party members in his acceptance speech.

“Whatever you need, if something has bothered you, if you want to voice your complaint or express a different opinion, please, before you go on Facebook or Twitter, before you make a bitter speech, for God’s sake call me and we’ll talk about it and fix it,” he said.

He also addressed his challenger Efi Xanthou, whom he beat by 204 votes to 92. He said Xanthou “deserves the applause” and “I invite her to aid me in the difficult task I am undertaking.”

Xanthou also spoke, saying “I must wish Giorgos Perdikis well. He has set out his goals, and he will rise to the occasion. Besides, he has done it many times before.”

“I have to give him the space to make the policies he believes will move our movement forwards. He will face no opposition from me. I will be here to continue doing the things I did until now,” she added.

Perdikis will remain as leader of the party until at least February 2025, when the current term of his predecessor Charalambos Theopemptou was due to end.

Perdikis led the party between 2014 and 2020 and is seeking a second term as party leader, while Efi Xanthou is running for the party’s leadership for the first time.

The post of party leader became vacant in October when MP Charalambos Theopemptou resigned from the leadership in October, a day after fellow MP Alexandra Attalides had left the party.

Perdikis, 61, became the first general coordinator of the party in 1996, before becoming general secretary in 2002, before serving as the party’s “president” between 2013 and 2020.

He served for four consecutive terms in the House of Representatives, representing the Nicosia district, first winning election in 2001.