The President of the House of Representatives and leader of the DISY party, Annita Demetriou, called on police on Monday to provide an official update regarding the ex officio investigation into allegations of domestic abuse involving Paphos Mayor Phedon Phedonos.
Speaking on Sigma TV, Demetriou said that while political parties maintain an “unnegotiable” stance on gender-based violence, they cannot act as a substitute for law enforcement or the judiciary. The House President noted that despite the gravity of the claims circulating in the media, the authorities have yet to issue a formal briefing to the political leadership.
The investigation into Phedonos, a prominent figure within the DISY party, follows social media allegations of a past physical assault against his wife. Demetriou drew parallels to the party’s response after a previous complaint involving MP Nikos Sykas, but stressed that such decisions require a foundation of verified facts. “Political parties are certainly not the police,” she stated, adding that DISY would take decisive action only once an official police investigation or formal complaint is confirmed.
Demetriou noted that the Istanbul Convention, the Council of Europe’s treaty for preventing violence against women, remains the “gospel” for the Republic’s approach to such sensitive cases, providing the legal and ethical framework for protecting victims and managing allegations.
However, she warned that the current climate of media-led disclosure must be balanced with the protection of the families and children involved. “We are dealing with people, with children, with families,” Demetriou said, insisting that every citizen deserves the protection of due process as mandated by international treaties.
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