Court rejects Sykas bid to halt Disy ballot decision

The Limassol district court on Friday rejected an application by Nikos Sykas seeking a temporary injunction to block his party from reviewing a decision to exclude him from its parliamentary election ballot, ruling that the matter should proceed to a full hearing.

The court declined to issue an interim order that would have prevented Disy’s supreme council from examining the decision of the party’s politburo until the main application is heard.

Sykas’ main application, which seeks the annulment of the politburo’s decision to remove him from the ballot, will be examined at a later stage.

The case arises from Disy’s decision last month to suspend the Limassol MP from its list of candidates for the May 2026 parliamentary elections, following allegations of domestic violence made by his partner.

Sykas has categorically denied the allegations and has maintained that he was not afforded the right to be heard before the party acted.

Appearing before the Limassol district court earlier this month, Sykas’ lawyer, Christos Pourgouridis, argued that the party’s move was “illegal and unfounded”, taken prematurely and in breach of “basic principles of fairness”.

He said the exclusion amounted to a political sanction imposed before any judicial determination of the allegations.

Disy’s legal representatives opposed the request for interim relief, insisting that the party acted within its statutes and in line with its stated principles.

The court granted the party time to file written objections, setting the procedural timetable that led to Friday’s ruling.

Although Sykas’ partner later withdrew her complaint through a sworn statement, police continued the investigation, citing their obligations under domestic violence legislation.

The investigative file, which includes witness statements, photographic material, medical certificates and forensic reports, has been forwarded to the legal service for consideration.

Earlier this month, the supreme court unanimously lifted Sykas’ parliamentary immunity, stressing that the alleged offences were serious and unrelated to his parliamentary duties, and that “everyone is equal before the law”.

Disy has repeatedly framed its decision as a matter of principle rather than guilt.

Party leader and House speaker Annita Demetriou has said that “violence of any kind is incompatible with our values”, while emphasising respect for the presumption of innocence.

Sykas, for his part, has said he is facing a “public trial before any evidence has been evaluated”, and has questioned “why a political sanction should be imposed before the completion of judicial proceedings”.