Averof Neophytou, former president of the Democratic Alarm and candidate for the presidency of the Republic in the 2028 presidential election, made some revealing remarks regarding the behind-the-scenes consultations held with the party leadership before he announced his entry into the election “race.”
Speaking on a podcast for the newspaper “O Fileleftheros” and to journalist Frixos Dalitis, he claimed that prior to the 2026 Parliamentary Elections, he had attended a dinner at a well-known fish tavern in Nicosia, at the initiative “the party president’s closest associate,” whom he did not name, however. As she claims, his associate said, word for word: “Since you’re in a good position, make sure we re-elect Anita as Speaker of the House so we can all go together, united, to the presidential election with you.”
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“The day after the parliamentary elections, they came out with public statements telling her to back off, to rein in her ambitions, that she’d get her comeuppance. And when they were pressuring her, someone stood by her side.”
READ ALSO: “It will hurt the DISY base”: They don’t want to believe that Averof will do what Diplaros and Koulla did to him in 2023
See the relevant excerpt:
Speaking on the Alpha News program, DISY Deputy President Efthymios Diplaros maintained that, to the best of his knowledge, there was no agreement between Averof and Annita, and he referred to the “he should be asked about this himself.”
“I know firsthand that Averof Neophytou and Efthymios Diplaros contributed to a positive outcome in the election of Annita Dimitriou as Speaker of the House. Now, as for what was said in private between the two of them, I do not know.”
He raised questions regarding the statements made by Averof Neophytou, who has not yet clarified whether he will seek the DISY nomination through the party’s selection process or whether he plans to run as an independent in the presidential election. He noted that this is Mr. Neophytou’s inalienable right, though he did not hide the fact that there is concern within DISY regarding institutional procedures that may be violated.
“In 2023, we went through what we went through; he himself understands the gravity of the situation.”
Mr. Diplaros asserted that, due to his position within DISY, he maintains communication with all party officials “without ever adding fuel to the fire,” and he urged everyone to do the same.
“We have no personal conflict with anyone. This is an institutional explanation that Averof must provide to everyone.”
READ ALSO: “It’s counterproductive”: The government’s response to what Averof “implies” regarding the Cyprus issue
