The election campaign is entering its final stretch, with parties and candidates focusing squarely on voters. Any discussions about post-election alliances have effectively been put on hold, as daily canvassing and successive campaign rallies leave little room for dialogue between party leaders. That said, some exploratory moves had taken place earlier to test intentions and, until last Christmas, there appeared to be a political flirtation between DISY and DIKO.
The Presidential Palace
The prospect of a DISY–DIKO partnership immediately after the elections is causing unease at the Presidential Palace, as Nicholas Papadopoulos’ party is the government’s largest coalition partner. This, according to political sources, explains leaks to the media suggesting that President Nikos Christodoulides intends to extend an olive branch to DISY after the elections. The aim, it is argued, is to prevent cooperation between the two parties, so that Christodoulides does not lose political allies ahead of the 2028 presidential elections.
A decline in DISY’s polling numbers is seen as a quiet wish of the President, who believes such a development would put Pindarou under pressure. It would not only complicate any DISY–DIKO cooperation but also make DISY more vulnerable to efforts by the Presidential Palace to draw the right-wing party into the governing camp.
‘Not even remotely’
A senior DISY official who sits on the party’s central collective bodies told Politis that a structured proposal from the President for DISY to join the government had never been presented to the party leadership. There may, the official said, have been some indirect feelers through third parties, but it was obvious that President Christodoulides wanted to bring DISY under his control. Christodoulides, the official added, presents himself as the ‘good boy’ of the Right, implying that DISY is being obstinate.
The same source stressed that within DISY there is a clear school of thought that answers the question of government participation with ‘not even remotely’. Almost no one, the official said, wants the party to return to the dilemmas that divided it in 2023. There is no such prospect with Annita Demetriou as party leader, particularly given the party congress decision of April 2023 that placed DISY in the role of responsible opposition to the Christodoulides government.
The flirtation
During the outgoing parliamentary term, it became apparent that DISY and DIKO shared common positions on many issues. A departing DISY MP told Politis that the two parties voted the same way on eight out of ten legislative proposals, while a DIKO MP put the figure at 95 per cent, noting that no government bill would have passed without DISY’s support. It is clear that each party views the other as a potential political partner, with public statements on both sides underlining how far apart they are from the rest of the political spectrum.
The proposal
According to Politis information, senior DISY figures sounded out sections of DIKO a few months ago, floating the idea of backing Nicholas Papadopoulos for the presidency of the House of Representatives. The condition set by DISY was that DIKO would withdraw from the Christodoulides government. Talks stalled because of the parliamentary elections, with tough negotiations expected after 24 May.
A DIKO MP, however, told Politis that withdrawal from government could not be set as a precondition. The Speaker of the House will be elected at the first plenary session of the new parliament on 4 June, the MP noted, adding that DIKO could not leave the government within ten days. Any such decision, the MP said, would require a real political reason, describing withdrawal within an 11-day window as unlikely and politically unorthodox.
Crash test
Relations between DISY and DIKO will be tested during the election of the Speaker. If DISY backs a Nicholas Papadopoulos candidacy, it will signal genuine political chemistry and a serious prospect of cooperation ahead of the 2028 presidential elections. If it does not, it will indicate that the two parties still have a long way to go and may ultimately fail to forge an alliance.
Scenarios
Both parties caution that analyses of the Speaker election remain premature, as they do not take into account the still-unknown outcome of the parliamentary elections. Nevertheless, internal scenario planning is under way.
One widely discussed scenario assumes DISY securing 13 or 14 seats and DIKO seven or eight, giving them a combined total of 21 or 22. ELAM is projected to win between eight and ten seats, leaving the remaining parties with 27 or 28. On this basis, some believe ELAM would be forced to back a DISY–DIKO candidate, increasing the chances of electing a Speaker.
ELAM
DISY has no desire for cooperation with ELAM, viewing it instead as one of its main political rivals. ELAM’s leader has said the party will not support Annita Demetriou for Speaker. However, DISY figures acknowledge that ELAM is politically isolated and will have limited options. Either it backs a centre-right candidate or, through its stance, facilitates the election of a candidate supported by AKEL and other parties. To avoid being blamed for such an outcome, ELAM may ultimately support DISY and DIKO choices.
Some DIKO figures share a similar reading, though they do not believe ELAM should remain isolated. A DIKO official told Politis that isolation policies had boosted ELAM’s support, acknowledging that Nicholas Papadopoulos would need ELAM’s votes if he were to be elected Speaker.
Apple of discord
Nicholas Papadopoulos’ party is fully aware of the conditions created by changes in the party landscape and the expected reshuffle of the political scene. DIKO believes it will continue to act as a kingmaker, becoming the apple of discord between President Christodoulides and DISY. This position offers the party considerable negotiating leverage ahead of the 2028 presidential elections, with DIKO intent on maximising its gains from the rivalry between the Presidential Palace and Pindarou.
Ace up the sleeve
DISY is reaching out to DIKO, knowing that its 2028 strategy cannot succeed without an alliance with Nicholas Papadopoulos’ party. It will not, however, become a doormat for the DIKO leader. DISY believes Papadopoulos also faces serious challenges, particularly the expected drop in DIKO’s vote share, which could trigger internal questioning of his leadership, especially if the party falls to fifth or sixth place.
A political victory would therefore be crucial for Papadopoulos, with the House presidency strengthening his position within the party. At the same time, a DISY official told Politis that Annita Demetriou’s ideal scenario would be re-election as Speaker. The official dismissed speculation that DISY would step aside in favour of Christodoulides in such a case, arguing that the Speaker’s post could become a powerful bargaining chip ahead of 2028. The example of Dimitris Christofias was cited, who was Speaker before being elected President of the Republic, subsequently handing the House presidency to Marios Karoyian.
