With 17 months to go before the presidential election, discussions at party headquarters are heating up, with the focus on selecting the candidate who will run in the race.
DISY is preparing for internal party elections, the timing of which has not yet been set, as the behind-the-scenes whispers and closed-door discussions—especially between Annita Dimitriou and Averof Neophytou— are at their peak and seem to be leading to a deadlock for the time being.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Relations between the two, according to party sources, are not the best, as they have long been locked in a power struggle. Anita Dimitriou’s trump card is her lead in the polls, while Averof Neophytou’s are his experience and the aces up his sleeve—which he hints he possesses.
Giorgos Pamporidis is also assembling a campaign team, as he is particularly eager to prevent the former party president from entering the race. What remains unknown at this time is whether all three will ultimately run in the party primary.
Within AKEL, a new meeting between the General Secretary and Andreas Mavroyiannis will take place later this month, following his public confirmation that he is leaning toward running again, as he stated on Alpha TV, by throwing his support behind Ezekia Papaioannou.
However, the party is in no rush to make decisions, awaiting the outcome of the dialogue with the rank and file.
They are not ruling out Christodoulides
ELAM is laying the groundwork for its November electoral convention, which will be the first comprehensive electoral process since the party’s founding. Christos Christou is currently considered the sole contender.
Some party members—particularly the more veteran officials—believe that running independently in the presidential election is the only way forward, but prominent members and members of parliament are pushing for support for Nikos Christodoulides starting in the very first round. Party officials make no secret of their sympathy for the president, such as MP Andreas Papacharalambous, who spoke to Alpha on Sunday, while also acknowledging that Christos Christou is capable.
“I will never find myself opposing Nikos Christodoulides, nor will I ever speak ill of him or say whether I agree or disagree. Beyond that, of course, we must not take anyone for granted.”
Andreas Papacharalambous
DIKO is keeping its cards close to its chest. There is a divide within the leadership over whether or not to ultimately renew Nikos Christodoulides’ mandate.
Reversal of Expulsions
The new president of EDEK is seeking good relations with the government, even as internal tensions within the party remain high. The crisis of confidence between her and the old guard of the leadership became apparent during the meeting the day before yesterday with Nicos Christodoulides, when Sofia Christodoulou chose to bring along two individuals with ties to the party but who hold no institutional or active role.
Alpha reports that in the coming hours, Sofia Christodoulou will publicly open EDEK’s doors to all members who have been expelled in the past, even those who chose to support other parties or candidates, provided they wish to rejoin the party.
See the report by Evangelos Agapios:
