The Political Bureau of DISY meets at 5pm on Friday amid heightened internal tensions over the party’s process for selecting its candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
Members will consider the Executive Bureau’s proposal for candidate nominations to be submitted by 13 October and an internal party vote to be held on 14 November.
The timetable has already generated considerable debate within the party, with some senior figures expressing reservations about the speed with which the nomination process is being advanced.
The Political Bureau will be asked either to ratify the proposal or amend it in light of objections raised publicly and privately by party members and officials.
Concerns over divisions within the party
The meeting is considered particularly significant because it comes at a time when internal relations within DISY have become increasingly strained.
Some party figures have expressed concern that the candidate selection process could trigger further tensions and deepen divisions already evident within the party.
The leadership, meanwhile, is seeking to present the process as an institutional and democratic exercise while resolving an issue that has already generated public disagreements.
Pamboridis expected to seek extension
Former health minister Giorgos Pamboridis is expected to present a proposal calling for an extension to the nomination deadline.
Pamboridis has openly criticised the proposed timetable, arguing that the available timeframe is too limited for those considering entering the race.
At the centre of his objections is the requirement that candidates collect 500 signatures from members across all districts.
He has argued that, as an ordinary party member and not part of the party apparatus, he does not have access to the party membership registry, making the process more difficult.
Alternative proposal suggests 2027 vote
A separate proposal has already been submitted to party leader Annita Demetriou, calling for the nomination deadline to be moved and for the internal election to take place in February 2027.
The competing proposals reflect differing views within DISY over when decisions regarding the 2028 election should be taken.
Neofytou’s position closely watched
Particular attention is also focused on former DISY leader Averof Neofytou, who has already voiced strong reservations about the proposed timetable, saying that “the timelines do not work.”
Neofytou has not yet clarified whether he intends to pursue the nomination through the party process or follow a different course.
He has, however, stated that he will set out his position once the procedures formally begin.
Should the Political Bureau approve the Executive Bureau’s proposal, attention is expected to shift immediately to Neofytou’s next move.
Leadership argues for early decision
Officials at party headquarters have defended the accelerated timetable, arguing that DISY’s eventual candidate should have sufficient time to organise and develop a presidential campaign.
Their position is that an early decision would allow the party to close the internal chapter and focus on political preparations for the presidential election.
For many within DISY, however, the significance of Friday’s meeting goes beyond the dates themselves.
The broader challenge for the leadership is to ensure that the process does not leave behind new divisions and does not evolve into a deeper internal conflict that could further undermine party unity.
