Annita Demetriou

Annita Demetriou
Αννίτα Δημητρίου
Demetriou in 2023
President of the Cypriot House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 June 2021
Preceded by	Adamos Adamou
President of the Democratic Rally
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 March 2023
Preceded by	Averof Neofytou
Member of the Cypriot House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 June 2016
Constituency	Larnaca
Personal details
Born	(1985-10-18) 18 October 1985 (age 39) Troulloi, Cyprus
Political party	Democratic Rally
Spouse	Andreas Kyprianou
Alma mater	University of Cyprus University of Kent
Signature

Annita Demetriou (Greek: Αννίτα Δημητρίου; born 18 October 1985) is a Cypriot politician, who serves as President of the Cypriot House of Representatives since June 2021, and as the President of the Democratic Rally (DISY) since March 2023. The latter role effectively designates her as the Leader of Opposition to the incumbent Christodoulides government.^[1][2]

The first woman and youngest person ever to hold either of the top roles, Demetriou has also represented her home district of Larnaca in the House of Representatives since 2016.

Early life and education

Demetriou was born on 18 October 1985 in the village of Troulli, Larnaca District.^[3] She graduated with a degree in social and political science from the University of Cyprus in 2007 and a Masters in international relations and European studies from the University of Kent.^[3][4][5]

Career

Demetriou's speech at the EPP Summit on June 27, 2024, in Brussels.

Demetriou worked at the University of Cyprus as a Public Relations Officer and a lecturer in International Relations.^[5] She was a Special Association at Capital TV presenting the Central News Bulletin.^[6][7]

Demetriou is a member of the conservative Democratic Rally (DISY) party.^[8] She was a member of the Troulloi Community Council from 2012 until 2016,^[3] and was the first woman on the council.^[5] She first stood for election for parliament in 2016, and was initially removed from a list of potential candidates with party spokesman Prodromos Prodromou saying contesting an election was "not a beauty pageant."^[8][9] She was reinstated after pressure from party members at the removal of democratically elected nominees,^[9] and she was elected to parliament as representative for the Larnaca District in 2016, before being re-elected in 2021.^[8]

Annita Demetriou at the EPP Summit on June 17, 2024, in Brussels.

Demetriou has been deputy chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Equal Opportunities between Men and Women and the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Culture.^[10] In 2018, she was spokesperson for Nicos Anastasiades during his campaign for President.^[3] She has been Vice President of DISY since February 2020.^[11] In April 2018, she was selected by the French government to participate in the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference, and in March 2020 she was an International Visitor Leadership Program observer for the United States primary elections.^[12] In July 2020, she worked with AKEL MP Skevi Koukouma to enact legislation that criminalised sexism and discrimination against women.^[13]

Demetriou was elected speaker of the House of Representatives on 10 June 2021 in the second round of voting from seven candidates,^[14] including front runner and left-wing AKEL party leader Andros Kyprianou,^[15] with support from the centrist Democratic Front and far-right ELAM parties.^[8] She received 25 votes from the 56 seat parliament, with 22 needed in the second round.^[4] She was the first and only female candidate and is the first woman, as well as the youngest person, to be elected to the position.^[8] There are only eight women in the parliament and President Anastasiades said her election sent "a strong message ... to all women of Cyprus, to all citizens of Cyprus, that women can and must strive for such positions because they deserve them."^[4] She is also the first DISY politician to hold the post, which has usually been held by a member of one of numerous opposition parties.^[9]

The Speaker is currently the second in the second-highest office in the country after the President.^[16] In her first week in the role, Demetriou reduced the number of her personal bodyguards to 5, down from the 8 of her predecessor Adamos Adamou and 15 of his predecessor Demetris Syllouris.^[17]

Annita Demetriou was elected president of the Democratic Rally in 11 March 2023, after securing 69.18% of the votes of the DISY members. Her only opponent, Demetris Demetriou, lost with 30.82%.^[18]

Presidency of the House of Representatives and of DISY

In October 2021, Annita Demetriou proposed a legislation to address violence against women by establishing the crime of femicide.^[19][20] The law, passed with 38 votes in favor and 4 against, introduced a penalty of life imprisonment for femicide.^[21][22]

On May 12, 2022, Demetriou submitted a bill to the Plenary of the House seeking to criminalise school bullying, by introducing a penalty of up to 12 months in prison or a fine of up to 2,000 euros.^[23]

On February 8, 2024, she proposed a law aimed at abolishing lifelong benefits provided to former Presidents of the Republic and Presidents of the House of Representatives, introducing conditions for their provision, and implementing security arrangements subject to assessment and periodic evaluation. The proposal also included limitations for the provision of service vehicles and secretarial services.^[24]

On February 22, 2024, Demetriou proposed a law aiming to introduce postal voting for the European Parliament Elections for residents abroad. This initiative is expected to increase participation rates in the elections and save resources by eliminating polling stations outside the country.^[25]

On November 9, 2024, Annita Demetriou, as the leader of the opposition to the Christodoulides government, announced the establishment of a shadow cabinet for the first time in the history of Cyprus.^[26]

Public image

According to 2024 polls, Annita Demetriou is the most popular politician in Cyprus, with approval ratings averaging around 70%. This is the highest approval rating ever achieved by a DISY president.^[27][28]

Demetriou came under scrutiny in 2024 for a stance she took against Georgios Grivas (The leader of EOKA and founder of the Cypriot National Guard), EOKA and the Greek War of Independence, saying that enough is enough, discussing issues such as 1956 and 1821.^[29]

Personal life

Demetriou is an ethnic Greek. She has been married to Andreas Kyprianou since 2013.^[3][5]

References

1. Solutions, BDigital Web. "Στην αντιπολίτευση ο ΔΗΣΥ - Εγκρίθηκε στο Συνέδριο η πρόταση της Αννίτας". Kathimerini.com.cy (in Greek). Retrieved 7 September 2023.
2. Newsroom (30 April 2023). "Οριστικά «υπεύθυνη αντιπολίτευση» ο ΔΗΣΥ". Φιλελεύθερος | Philenews (in Greek). Retrieved 7 September 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
3. "DEMETRIOU Annita". Republic of Cyprus House of Representatives.
4. Kissel, Thomas (11 June 2021). "Annita Demetriou, Cyprus' First Female Parliamentary Speaker". Greek Reporter. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
5. "Αννίτα Δημητρίου: Η 30χρονη που σάρωσε στις χθεσινές εκλογές" (in Greek). 23 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
6. "Αννίτα Δημητρίου" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
7. "Κύπρος: Η Αννίτα Δημητρίου η πρώτη γυναίκα που εκλέγεται πρόεδρος της Βουλής" (in Greek). CNN Greece. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
8. "Annita Demetriou: Cyprus elects first female and youngest-ever parliamentary speaker". The Greek Herald. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
9. Psyllides, George (13 June 2021). "The backstage bartering behind the House's top post". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
10. Hadjicostis, Menelaos (10 June 2021). "Cyprus elects its 1st-ever female parliament speaker". CT Post. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
11. Hazou, Elias (19 June 2021). "Disy's Demetriou voted as new House President, first woman Speaker for Cyprus (Update 3)". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
12. "Annita Demetriou first female Speaker of the Cypriot Parliament". Greek City Times. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
13. Michael, Peter (6 July 2020). "House begins debate on bills to criminalise sexism". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
14. "Cyprus: Annita Demetriou of DISY, is the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives". Independent Balkan News Agency. 10 June 2021. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
15. Charalambous, Annie (10 June 2021). "Akel's Kyprianou appears to have best chances to with Thursday's House presidency vote". In-Cyprus. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
16. "Cyprus parliament elects first madam speaker". Knews. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
17. Charalambous, Annie (16 June 2021). "New House Speaker decreases number of personal guards to five". In-Cyprus. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
18. OmegaLive (11 March 2023). "Εκλογές ΔΗΣΥ: Σαρωτική νίκη Αννίτας - Τα ποσοστά". OmegaLive. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
19. "Γυναικοκτονίες: Πρόταση Αννίτας για διά βίου φυλάκιση | Offsite". www.offsite.com.cy. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
20. "ΚΥΠΡΟΣ: Ποινή φυλάκισης δια βίου για τις γυναικοκτονίες κατέθεσε η Πρόεδρος της Βουλής Αννίτα Δημητρίου. - Famagusta News". famagusta.news (in Greek). 8 October 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
21. "Υπερψηφίστηκε ο νόμος για τις γυναικοκτονίες - Διά βίου φυλάκιση η ποινή". ΠΟΛΙΤΗΣ. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
22. Solutions, BDigital Web. "Η Βουλή θέσπισε το αδίκημα της γυναικοκτονίας". Kathimerini.com.cy (in Greek). Retrieved 3 April 2024.
23. "Πρόταση νόμου από Αννίτα - Μέχρι Φυλακή για bullying στα σχολεία | Offsite". www.offsite.com.cy. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
24. "Κατάλογο 15 ατόμων για το ψηφοδέλτιο των Ευρωεκλογών εξετάζει το Πολιτικό Γραφείο της ΕΔΕΚ". Κατάλογο 15 ατόμων για το ψηφοδέλτιο των Ευρωεκλογών εξετάζει το Πολιτικό Γραφείο της ΕΔΕΚ. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
25. Solutions, BDigital Web. "Αννίτα Δημητρίου - Πρόταση νόμου για επιστολική ψήφο". Kathimerini.com.cy (in Greek). Retrieved 3 April 2024.
26. "Αυτό είναι το «Σκιώδες Υπουργικό» του ΔΗΣΥ – Τα 23 ονόματα που το απαρτίζουν" (in Greek). 9 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
27. "Αννίτα και πάσης Κύπρου - «Μακαριακά» ποσοστά σε έρευνα για την πρόεδρο του ΔΗΣΥ". ΠΟΛΙΤΗΣ. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
28. Δημητριάδη, Ραφαέλα (10 March 2024). "ΔΗΜΟΣΚΟΠΗΣΗ «Φ»: Πρώτη με διαφορά η Αννίτα – Στεφάνου και Περδίκης με θετικό πρόσημο". Φιλελεύθερος | Philenews (in Greek). Retrieved 21 May 2024.
29. OmegaLive (1 February 2024). "Σήκωσε το γάντι η Αννίτα για την απουσία της από το μνημόσυνο του Γρίβα: «Δεν χρειάζομαι πιστοποιητικά πατριωτισμού - Με λοιδορούν»". OmegaLive. Retrieved 16 April 2024.

External links

• Annita Demetriou on Instagram
• 2016 interview with Demetriou at the European Parliament's Young Members of Parliament Forum