Annita Demetriou Re-elected Speaker of the Cypriot Parliament (original) (raw)

Re-elected Cypriot President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou addresses Parliament after her re-election at the Parliament House in Nicosia, Cyprus, on Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

NICOSIA – Annita Demetriou was re-elected Speaker of the Cypriot House of Representatives for a second term by a majority of MPs during the first plenary session held the afternoon of June 4.

Her election was secured in the second round of voting, where, with the support of MPs from the Democratic Rally (DISY), the Democratic Party (DIKO), and Direct Democracy, she received 29 votes.

AKEL General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou received 19 votes in the second round, coming from AKEL’s 15 MPs and ALMA’s 4 MPs.

ELAM abstained in the second-round vote.

Annita Demetriou is the first woman ever elected to the office, having first won it in 2021, and has now secured a second term.

In the first round there were four candidates:

Annita Demetriou received the 17 votes of Democratic Rally (DISY) and the 4 votes of Direct Democracy, for a total of 21 votes, advancing to the second round.
Stefanos Stefanou received AKEL’s 15 votes and ALMA’s 4 votes, totaling 19 votes, also advancing to the second round.
Christos Christou received only the 8 votes of ELAM MPs.
Nikolas Papadopoulos received the 8 votes of Democratic Party (DIKO) MPs.

The first session of the newly elected Parliament was opened by the oldest member, Zacharias Koulias, and began with the swearing-in procedure for the new MPs and representatives of the religious groups.

After the results were announced, Annita Demetriou stated: “Today’s vote is for me the highest honor and responsibility. As in my first term, so in my second, I promise to proceed with complete fidelity to the Constitution, the laws, and the Rules of Parliament. I will ensure that every male and female member of Parliament has the right to be heard, to participate equally, and to contribute meaningfully to parliamentary work.”

President Christodoulides Looks Forward to Constructive Cooperation

President Nikos Christodoulides congratulated Annita Demetriou on her re-election and wished her every success in carrying out her high responsibilities.

In a written statement, he said that Parliament is a fundamental pillar of democracy and that cooperation between the executive and legislative branches is crucial for the country’s progress.

The President emphasized that, while respecting their distinct institutional roles, he looks forward to a constructive and productive partnership focused on the needs of society and the expectations of citizens.

He added that his foremost priority remains improving citizens’ daily lives.

He further stated that advancing policies that address society’s real problems, implementing major reforms, and maintaining the country’s positive trajectory require cooperation, responsibility, and dedication to the public interest.

President Christodoulides concluded that citizens expect results from everyone and added: “With institutional consistency and a spirit of cooperation, we can meet this responsibility and continue the effort for a stronger, more modern, and more effective Cyprus.”

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