The Democratic Rally (DISY) is heading into internal elections in the Limassol district after the number of prospective candidates exceeded the available spots on the party’s parliamentary ticket.
Limassol is allocated 12 parliamentary seats. While 12 party members submitted their candidacies, DISY leader Annita Demetriou also announced two ex officio ("aristindin") candidates, bringing the total to 14—two more than the number of slots. With two seats reserved for aristindin candidates and one effectively secured by incumbent MP Fotini Tsiridou due to the party’s gender quota, 11 candidates will now compete for the remaining 9 positions in an internal party election.
The 11 candidates contesting the internal vote are:
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MP Nikos Sykas
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Limassol Panagrotikos Association secretary Giorgos Karaiskakis (also chief of staff to MP Efthymios Diplaros)
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International relations expert Antonis Stylianou
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Former MP Andreas Michaelides
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Former Minister Timis Efthymiou
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Agros community leader Antonis Tsolakis
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Municipal councillors Michalis Fellas and Andreas Nikolaou
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Apaisia community leader Lefteris Periklis
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Academic Onisiforos Iordanous
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Lefteris Tsiakkirou
The internal elections in Limassol will take place on 11 October, with results expected the same day. Following the vote, the Political Bureau will meet on 13 October to officially approve the candidate lists for all districts.
District Updates:
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Nicosia: The party has finalised its ballot after the withdrawal of Kostas Gavriilidis, Maria Christofidou, and Andreas Karamanos. The remaining 19 candidates match the number of seats, which was reduced following the transfer of one seat to Paphos.
Confirmed candidates include MPs Demetris Demetriou and Savia Orphanidou, former police deputy chief Demetris Demetriou, Tina Pavlou, Anastasia Anthousi, Giorgos Pamporidis, Charalambos Petrides, Andreas Constantinou, Elena Kousiou, Marios Elias, Poly Kourousidis, Neophytos Zambas, Christos Pallis, Giorgos Chrysanthou, Christakis Meleties, Christoforos Christoforou, Zacharias Manitaras, Konstantinos Mountoukos, and Theodoros Tsatsou.
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Larnaca: With 6 seats available, only three candidates have come forward so far: Annita Demetriou, MP Prodromos Alambritis, and Andreas Manolis. Efforts are underway to recruit two more.
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Famagusta: All 11 seats are matched by candidates: aristindin Paris Markou, Nikos Georgiou, Giorgos Karoullas, Giorgos Chatzigeorgiou, Giorgos Lysandrides, Margarita Kaimaklioti, Pavlos Liasides, Panayiotis Mauris, Andreas Siammaros, Dimitris Koumis, and Christos Michail.
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Kyrenia: With 3 seats allocated, the DISY ticket includes Rita Theodorou Superman, Dimos Georgiadis, and Vasilis Koumettos.
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Paphos: The 4-member list is complete, comprising MP Charalambos Pazaros, Nikoleta Constantinou, Sotiris Koupparis, and Giorgos Theodosiou.
Maintaining momentum
According to information obtained by Politis, regional meetings of party officials are being scheduled across all districts, alongside political events featuring party leader Annita Demetriou, during which candidates will be officially presented.
A party source said that DISY currently holds a clear organisational lead over other parties in terms of ballot readiness and aims to maintain this momentum to stay several steps ahead in the lead-up to national elections.