Annita Demetriou: Cyprus elects first female and youngest-ever parliamentary speaker

·

The Cypriot parliament elected its first female speaker on Thursday, handing the role to 35-year-old Annita Demetriou, a member of the governing conservative Democratic Rally party.

According to a Facebook post from the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Ms Demetriou is also the youngest person ever to be elected to the role.

Demetriou received backing from the centrist Democratic Front and from ELAM, a far-right party which almost doubled its standing in a parliamentary election last month.

https://www.facebook.com/CyprusinAustralia/posts/1482392468764582

As speaker of the House of Representatives, Demetriou is second in the state hierarchy after the national president.

A political scientist by training, she is considered one of her party’s most successful politicians.

Demetriou’s first attempt to be elected a lawmaker almost failed in 2016 when she was removed from a list of potential parliamentary election candidates, and one senior member said the party was contesting an election, “not a beauty pageant.”

New House President, Annita Demetriou. Photo: CNA / Cyprus Mail.

She was later reinstated after pressure from grassroot party members and went on to win her first term in parliament. She was re-elected to parliament last month.

Cyprus, a member of the European Union, has an executive system of government but parliamentary elections are an important gauge of how alliances may shift for presidential elections.

Seven parties are represented in parliament. None has an outright majority.

Source: Reuters.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Australia stands with Greece: Prime Minister Albanese’s message for OXI Day

On the 85th anniversary of OXI Day, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shared a heartfelt message.

Democracy on the big screen: Youth shine at the 13th Greek Student Film Festival

13th Greek Student Film Festival - staged within Sydney's 30th Greek Film Festival - filled the cinema with laughter and plenty of Greek.

Panayiota Dimopoulos’ OXI Day artwork takes pride of place on The Greek Herald cover

Panayiota Dimopoulos from Oakleigh Grammar designed The Greek Herald’s OXI Day cover, capturing the shared history of Greece and Australia.

Greek and Cypriot leaders honour OXI Day with messages to Australia’s Greek diaspora

Greek and Cypriot politicians and diplomats have issued messages to Australia’s Greek diaspora ahead of the OXI Day celebrations.

Greek Film Festival wraps 30th year with a triumphant Sydney finale

The curtain fell on the 30th Greek Film Festival in Sydney on Sunday night with a sold-out screening of Athens Midnight Radio.

You May Also Like

A fly on the wall at the Global ‘Women and Hellenism’ Conference in Ioannina

The conference is the brainchild of Varvara Athanasiou-Ioannou, originally from Ioannina, Greece, who arrived in Australia at age 18.

Long-time National Gallery director Marina Lambraki-Plaka passes away

Marina Lambraki-Plaka, an art historian and director of the National Gallery in Athens for almost 30 years, has passed away at the age of 83.

‘Never forget’: Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia on Asia Minor Catastrophe centenary

The Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia have issued a message today to mark the 100th anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe.