**Title: Edek Claims No Knowledge of Minister Panayiotou's Planned Departure from Government**
Edek, the Movement for Social Democracy in Cyprus, has stated that it has not been informed of any intentions regarding the departure of Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou from the government. Party spokesman Giorgos Georgiou made this assertion on Friday, emphasizing that the party remains committed to maintaining its representation in the current administration.
“We have no such information,” Georgiou told the Cyprus Mail. He reiterated Edek's objective since the government took power in 2023, which is to ensure that ministers from Edek are present in the government to help implement its program. Georgiou noted that this topic has been discussed in recent meetings between outgoing party leader Nikos Anastasiou and President Nikos Christodoulides.
The comments come in the wake of statements made earlier by Deputy Government Spokesman Yiannis Antoniou, who indicated that Panayiotou would be leaving her ministerial position to assume a role in the education sector. Panayiotou, who has a background as a philology teacher, was listed among the appointees to teaching roles by the educational service commission in February, set to take effect in September.
Rumors of a potential cabinet reshuffle have circulated since the parliamentary elections in May, during which Edek and fellow government-supporting party Dipa lost all their seats in the House. This shift in the political landscape has led to speculation that Diko, the only remaining government-supporting party with eight parliamentary seats, may seek to increase its influence within the government.
Currently, Diko holds three ministerial positions, including Finance Minister Makis Keravnos, Energy Minister Michael Damianos, and Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides. In contrast, Edek and Dipa share control of three ministries, with Dipa's Marinos Mousiouttas serving as Labour Minister and Vasilis Palmas as Defence Minister, alongside Panayiotou from Edek.
Edek has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the cabinet reshuffle conducted by President Christodoulides in November of the previous year. This reshuffle did not see any new appointments from Edek, leaving Panayiotou as the party's sole minister. Anastasiou had voiced expectations that the president would recognize Edek's contributions more favorably, but the party's recent loss of parliamentary seats has diminished its leverage.
Calls for Panayiotou's resignation have also emerged from various political figures. House President Annita Demetriou and Akel leader Stefanos Stefanou both criticized her performance earlier this year. Demetriou stated that “patience” with Panayiotou “has its limits,” while Stefanou described her continued presence in the role as “incomprehensible.”
Panayiotou's tenure has faced scrutiny in the past, particularly following her comments regarding the devastating wildfires that occurred last year. Her remark that “the only way we could have prevented [the fire] was for it not to have started” drew significant backlash, and there were reports suggesting that she might lose her position due to the fallout from that incident. Additionally, former Disy MP Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis accused her and another official of misleading parliament during testimonies related to the state’s response to the fires.
As the situation develops, Edek's leadership will likely continue to navigate the complexities of its role within the government amid ongoing discussions about its future and representation in the cabinet. The party's ability to maintain its influence will be closely watched, particularly in light of the shifting dynamics following the recent elections.