The founding and statutory conference of the new Volt Cyprus party took place at noon on Sunday, at the “Filoxenia” Conference Center in Nicosia.
Addresses in the first part of the conference were made by Deputy Government Spokesman Yannis Antoniou, on behalf of the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides and representatives of parliamentary parties, political parties, Volt Europe and Volt of other countries, while speeches were made by members of the founding committee of Volt Cyprus.
As mentioned at the conference, Volt Cyprus was founded through the association of independent active citizens and the cooperation of the “New Wave – The Other Cyprus” and “Ammochostos for Cyprus” movements.
Addressing the conference, on behalf of President Christodoulidis, Mr. Antoniou said that the representation of the President of the Republic at the Volt Cyprus conference “is a sign of respect and appreciation shown by the Government in every effort to enrich the political process through the participation of citizens in becoming public”.
He said that the principles of European progressivism advocated by Volt Cyprus are necessary, “especially in this difficult moment with the inequalities that are observed at all levels and call into question many of the European values”.
“Volt’s vision for a united Cyprus of prosperity and social justice, in a united and strong Europe, is compatible with the aspirations of the vast majority of political forces in Cyprus and with the vision of the Government and President Christodoulides, who is a devotee of a targeted course aimed at building an EU with purely federal characteristics”, he added.
This is required, according to the Deputy KE, “our current interest in today’s difficult and constantly changing international scene where the challenges are common and require a mutual and effective response”.
Mr. Antoniou that almost 20 years after its accession to the EU, “Cyprus is a creative partner with substantial participation in the European process”, while he referred to the successful exercise of the Presidency of the EU, for the first time, by Cyprus in 2012, saying that the next Presidency of the EU from Cyprus, the first half of 2026 “constitutes a milestone for our country”.
He said that “the President of the Republic has made it clear that Cyprus will make the most of this opportunity to contribute in a positive way as an honest mediator in ensuring institutional coherence and promoting as many legislative initiatives as possible”.
He stated that “specific political initiatives are already being examined which the President of the Republic wishes us to undertake”, in the context of the Cypriot presidency of the EU and added that “the dramatic developments in our region highlight the role that the Republic of Cyprus can play”.
He also mentioned that the upcoming elections for the European Parliament are a good opportunity for citizens’ voices to be heard and added that “we have an obligation to properly inform the public about what the EU offers”.
In an address on behalf of DISY, Xenia Constantinou, after sending the greetings of the President and the leadership of the party, said that “it is with particular joy to see a new movement being set up which chooses in a very difficult time to have Europe at its heart “, adding that the Volt “in an era of intense Europhobia” chooses to remain European.
“In an era in which there is intense conservation, intense extreme movements, intense the phenomenon of the rise of acrodexia to insist on progressivity,” he added.
In an address on behalf of AKEL, the former Minister of the Interior Eleni Mavrou said that “our country is in particular need of active citizens who dream and fight for a better life and a better tomorrow” and added that every process of reflection and search, dialogue and assertion it is not limited to the narrow framework of each organization but has a reflection on society, as a whole”.
Mrs. Mavrou also said that the actions should be intensified, “especially in these times if we want to fight more effectively for a rule of law, for the defense of institutions and values, for the consolidation of meritocracy, transparency and accountability everyone”.
In an address on behalf of DIKO, the director of the Office of the President of the party George Ioannou, after conveying the greetings of the President of DIKO Nikolas Papadopoulos, said that “especially today when both in Cyprus and in Europe the forces of the extreme right are on the rise and of unrestrained populism, the role of political parties of the wider democratic arc becomes even more important”. He said that DIKO expects a permanent and productive collaboration with the Volt for the good of the country and its citizens, Greeks, Greeks, Maronites and Latinos.
In an address on behalf of DIPA – Cooperation Marinos Cleanthos said that at a time when democracy and truth are at stake, “the establishment of Volt Cyprus can be a bold move since it tries to bring politics back to the center” and added that DIPA as a centrist party is looking forward to talking to the Volt, hearing its own views and “why not work together”.
The conference was also addressed by representatives of the Community Democracy (TDP) and New Cyprus (YKP) parties, the Co-President of Volt Europe Mels Klabbers and the member of the Central Committee and political council of Volt Greece Gianna Tzanidakis.
Also, speeches were delivered on behalf of Volt Cyprus by founding committee members Pieros Karoullas, Rodoula Dimitriadou, Andromachi Sophokleous and Hulusi Kilim. At the end of the first part of the conference, a video was presented with speeches by Volt co-presidents of other countries.
Then followed the second part of the conference which was addressed only to Volt Cyprus members and which concerned the ratification of the statute and the 25-member Political Council.
According to an announcement by Volt Cyprus, the conference closed its proceedings with the presentation to the members of the proposed Statute by Charilaos Velaris.
Volt’s Statute is reported to have been ratified by members while the movement’s first interim Political Council, which will lead the party into the upcoming European and municipal elections as well as its first electoral conference within a year, has been ratified.
According to the announcement, in a joint statement the Political Council states that “our vision is a united Cyprus of prosperity and social justice, in a united and strong Europe” and calls on “every fellow citizen to join us, so that the Volt to be that political force that will become a catalyst for the great changes and reforms that society and our country need”.
Immediately after the Statutory Congress, according to the announcement, the 25-member Political Council was convened which decided the composition of the 9-member Executive Office which is composed as follows: Co-President Alexandra Attalidou, Co-President Charilaos Velaris, Co-Vice-President Andromachis Sofokleous, Co-Vice-President Panos Parras , Press Spokesman Pieros Karoullas, Secretary General Hulusi Kilim, Organizing Secretary Katerina Koni, Financial Secretary Lambros Dionysiou and Secretary of European and International Relations Rodoula Dimitriadou.
