The Democratic Rally (DISY) is once again confronting internal divisions after former party president Averof Neophytou announced his candidacy for the 2028 presidential election, prompting an immediate response from party leader Annita Demetriou.
Neophytou's early announcement acted as a catalyst for political developments within the party, effectively bringing forward Demetriou's own declaration of interest. Within hours, the discussion inside DISY began raising concerns about the party's cohesion.
Demetriou confirms her candidacy
A day after Neophytou announced his intention to run, Demetriou, with the full backing of the party leadership, confirmed that she intends to seek the DISY nomination.
Her move was presented not as a reflexive response to Neophytou, but as a political decision within the party.
DISY's leadership regarded Neophytou's announcement as an attempt to force political developments, principally because he has not stated whether he will compete for the nomination through the party's internal procedures. Either way, his declaration has opened a complex and potentially difficult contest within DISY.
Leadership backs Demetriou
The debate within DISY triggered a series of reactions, leaving several possible scenarios open and raising concerns about the effect of the developing contest on party unity.
Neophytou's move placed the party leadership on the defensive and on alert. During a meeting of DISY's leadership team on Monday, Demetriou was asked whether she was interested in becoming a candidate.
After she responded positively, all members of the leadership team encouraged her to proceed with an announcement.
Demetriou calls for unity
In statements following the meeting, Demetriou said she was placing herself before the judgement of party members.
“DISY declares itself present and will have a candidate, for the good of its members and for the good of the country,” she said.
She also stressed that preserving party unity and following the democratic procedures provided for in DISY's statute must take priority.
Demetriou categorically rejected claims that there had been any previous agreement or bargaining with Neophytou surrounding her election as president of the House of Representatives.
At the same time, by declaring that “DISY will have a candidate”, she underlined that the decision ultimately rests with the party's statutes and its 50,000 organised members.
Neophytou leaves internal process unclear
Neophytou, speaking on various television channels and other media outlets on Monday, sought to explain the reasons for his candidacy. However, he did not state unequivocally whether he would ultimately participate in DISY's internal process, leaving open the possibility that he could challenge the terms under which it is conducted.
Responding to direct and indirect comments and criticism from DISY officials regarding the possibility of a split, Neophytou said he had served party unity for decades, shifting responsibility towards others and indirectly referring to the internal disputes of 2023.
Particular attention was drawn to his references to a dinner attended by Demetriou and one of her close associates. Neophytou claimed that appeals for support were made during the dinner, accompanied by suggestions of future considerations.
DISY's leadership, through spokesman Onoufrios Koulla, categorically rejected the existence of any agreement. Koulla nevertheless acknowledged Neophytou's contribution to Demetriou's election as president of the House of Representatives.
Questions over Neophytou's strategy
Neophytou has stressed that he is not seeking the party leadership but the presidency of the Republic.
However, his refusal to commit unequivocally to competing on equal terms through DISY's statutory procedures has raised questions within the party about his strategy. His comments suggest that he considers the conditions for participating in the internal contest may not be favourable to him, turning the 2028 race into a confrontation with the party establishment at Pindarou.
Koulla, DISY's executive director, also addressed the issue during an interview with Politis radio 107.6 and 97.6 and the programme Defteri Matia, hosted by Andri Daniel.
He stressed that all prospective candidates must follow the established procedures.
“The established procedures must be followed. It is compulsory that they are followed,” Koulla said.
He added that he could not imagine a former party president acting outside those established processes and spoke of concern and disappointment which, he said, was already being expressed among party officials and members.
Anastasiades warns of split
Former president of the Republic and former DISY president Nicos Anastasiades also intervened in the debate, seeking to maintain a balanced position.
Speaking on Sigma's midday news programme, Anastasiades described the sudden candidacy announcements as moves that were creating an unpleasant climate and a risk of division within the party.
“We have put the cart before the horse,” he said.
Anastasiades argued that priority should have been given to a strategy for political cooperation and an assessment of the balance of forces ahead of the second round of the presidential election, rather than an early internal contest between individual candidates.
His position was interpreted as criticism directed both at the DISY leadership and at Neophytou.
