Averof Neophytou is entering the presidential race, having partially announced his candidacy this afternoon. The only thing that might influence his decision is any potential developments regarding the Cyprus issue in New York. If Nicos Christodoulides returns empty-handed, then he will join the race. 

“If nothing happens this weekend—if everything remains bleak and stagnant—I’ll be a candidate. If things do move forward, we must all stand united behind whichever leadership emerges.”
<sub>Averof Neophytou – Former DISY

President</sub> His statement comes two days after Anita Dimitriou announced her intention to DISY officials to run for the party’s nomination. What the former president did not clarify is whether he will run for president, regardless of whether he wins or loses the party primary. 

It’s not a foregone conclusion

On the ALPHA News program, the AKEL secretary-general made it clear that no one can expect with certainty that the left-wing party will stand by Mavrogiannis.
 
Does his announcement pose a problem for you? No one can make things difficult for us. We will follow our own procedures. We’ll try to form alliances and support a candidate with the best prospects.
He
laid out the criteria that will also determine AKEL’s candidate: there must be a shared political agenda, no allegations of corruption against them, and they must not be a continuation of the policies implemented since 2013 by Nicos Anastasiades and Nicos Christodoulides, which, according to the party, reinforce inequalities.

A Rift in DIKO

The exchanges between Makis Keravnos and Nikolas Papadopoulos, set against the backdrop of the GSI, lay bare an internal rift within DIKO as the party heads toward the presidential election. This rift is reflected in two camps: one consisting of DIKO ministers and the other of members of the party leadership who are leaving the door open for another candidate.

Following Maki Keravnos, who clearly stated that he would support Nikos Christodoulides, the Minister of Energy and vice president of the party is once again rallying to the defense of the President of the Republic and opposes the possibility of an independent run.  

“Politically, DIKO cannot fail to support Christodoulides.”
_{Michalis Damianou – Minister of Energy}

On the other hand, the leadership is in no hurry to make decisions, keeping its distance from the fray.   

“DIKO’s decisions will be made when the time is right. We do not have any potential candidates.”
_{George Solomou – Secretary-General of DIKO}

The criticism from DIKO member Makis Keravnos and his references to the absurdities of politics continue to trouble the party.  

“He should be much more careful when characterizing those who will vote for his own state budget.”
_{George Solomou – Secretary-General of DIKO}
DISY has also entered
the fray of the political debate over the cable. Pindarou adopted a defensive stance toward DIKO, which she does not usually take.

“The Finance Minister’s unacceptable tone and disparaging remarks lower the standard of political discourse but, above all, diminish the significance of the project itself. It is inconceivable that a project which the government itself characterizes as being of strategic importance should at the same time be accompanied by contradictory positions, vacillation, and a lack of clear political will.”
 
This move has fueled speculation about a romance between Nikola and Annita, though neither side has admitted to anything of the sort. 

Watch Evangelos Agapios’s report: