Former DISY president Averof Neofytou has signalled that he intends to run for President of the Republic in 2028 if the coming days produce no developments creating a path forward on the Cyprus issue.
His remarks did not come entirely as a surprise. Neofytou has previously linked his political plans to developments on the Cyprus problem. What is raising questions within DISY, however, is whether his candidacy now stands independently of the party’s own process for selecting its presidential candidate.
Speaking on Omega, Neofytou said that if the coming hours produced no signs that could create conditions for intensified dialogue on the Cyprus issue, he would definitively enter the presidential race.
He has made similar statements in the recent past, consistently placing developments on Cyprus at the centre of his considerations.
What he has not publicly clarified is how his decision relates to the process through which DISY intends to select and endorse its official presidential candidate.
If Neofytou participates in an internal DISY election, a practice familiar within the party, his declarations would remain compatible with the established process. The situation would be very different if he intends to proceed regardless of the collective decision of the tens of thousands of party members entitled to participate in selecting DISY’s candidate.
Decision appears final
Despite the ambiguity surrounding Neofytou’s public statements, indications suggest that he has effectively announced his candidacy, regardless of what DISY ultimately decides.
According to information obtained by Politis, including from sources close to Neofytou, his decision to contest the 2028 presidential election is final, irrespective of developments concerning the party’s internal selection process.
In practical terms, that would mean Neofytou intends to run in any event, leaving DISY to decide whether it will support him.
DISY officials respond cautiously
Neofytou’s position has not yet triggered an outright confrontation within DISY, partly because his public statements remain tied to conditions concerning developments on the Cyprus problem.
Reaction among party officials has so far been characterised mainly by awkwardness and caution, as they assess their next moves collectively.
For the moment, party officials appear to be playing down the significance of Neofytou’s statements, particularly to avoid creating the impression of an internal conflict at a time when nobody within DISY wants divisions to become the party’s defining issue.
DISY insists its rules will be followed
Speaking on Morning Briefing on Politis 107.6 & 97.6, DISY parliamentary spokesman Dimitris Demetriou expressed hope that developments on the Cyprus issue would make an immediate presidential announcement unnecessary.
“Hopefully, everything will not be bleak and Mr Neofytou will not announce his candidacy on Monday. Hopefully, we will have developments and the announcements can be delayed,” Demetriou said.
He made clear, however, that DISY will follow its party constitution when selecting its presidential candidate.
Demetriou defended the prospect of allowing the party membership to decide, saying that “the grassroots provide solutions”.
“Democracy has never been a dead end. Democracy is healthy,” he said.
‘We are not in a civil war’
Demetriou also rejected suggestions that DISY is experiencing an internal “civil war” because of public disagreements between senior officials and contrasting approaches towards the government.
He acknowledged, however, that disputes and confrontations “sadden” and “hurt” the party.
He attributed the tensions to the workings of a “living organisation” and a dynamic internal party process.
Koulas says Neofytou informed Demetriou
DISY Executive Director Onoufrios Koulas also sought to prevent tensions from escalating.
Speaking on Omega’s Enimerosi Tora, Koulas said Neofytou had formally informed DISY president Annita Demetriou of his intention to contest the presidency.
The central issue for the party, however, remains whether that candidacy will proceed through DISY’s established internal procedures.
Koulas described the possibility of bypassing those procedures as unthinkable and called on Neofytou to publicly clarify his position.
The issue therefore now extends beyond whether Neofytou wants to contest the 2028 election. His intention increasingly appears clear. The unresolved question is whether he will seek the presidency as DISY’s chosen candidate or regardless of whom the party ultimately selects.
