“As party president, I feel a minimal obligation and responsibility to put myself forward to the party members, and I will be a candidate for the nomination in the upcoming presidential election.”
Anita Dimitriou – President of DISY
Twenty-four hours after Averof Neophytou, Anita Dimitriou “responds” with her own candidacy, issuing a call for unity within DISY.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“It is imperative to ensure the unity and cohesion of the party, and the democratic procedures set forth in the party’s bylaws will be followed.”
Anita Dimitriou
The Democratic Alarm Chairwoman’s decision was made during the party leadership’s midday meeting, which she attended without taking a substantive position on Neophytou’s announcement.
“— A comment on Mr. Neophytou’s candidacy. — It is his right
to take whatever position he wishes; it is our right—and our obligation—to follow our bylaws and procedures.”
Anita Dimitriou
The clouds of internal strife over DISY are thickening. The statements by the party’s former president—and especially the cryptic remarks with which he responds to questions about whether his candidacy will proceed within or outside the party’s internal procedures—are causing unease at Pindarou Street, though its officials are maintaining a measured stance.
“We’re talking, we’re talking with Mr. Neophytou. I am certain that he wants all procedures to follow their course, and everything required by the party bylaws will be done—and will be done.”
Efthymios Diplaros – Deputy President of DISY
“DISY will always emerge stronger each time.”
Yiannis Karousos – Vice President of DISY
On the Alpha News program, the party’s former Deputy Chairman, Haris Georgiadis, responded to Averof Neophytou’s remarks regarding a pledge — during a dinner — to support her candidacy in 2028.
“A commitment from a non-party member and a journalist who are considered, in a way, to be close to Anita Dimitriou—how does that bind the Democratic Alarm?”
Haris Georgiadis – President of the Glafkos Clerides Institute
Anastasiades’ “SOS”
The situation within DISY is causing concern for Anastasiades, who, in a statement on Sigma, called on all sides to engage in dialogue and mutual understanding.
“What is needed is level-headedness, proper consultation, and the avoidance of actions that only risk dividing the party.”
Nikos Anastasiades – Former President of the Republic
The party’s honorary president expressed his opposition to the possible expulsion of Averof Neophytou.
Roadmap
With the aim of clarifying the situation surrounding Averof Neophytou’s intentions as soon as possible, today’s meeting of the Democratic Alarm leadership established the roadmap that will determine the party’s nominee.
According to information from Alpha, the proposal to be presented tomorrow to the DISY Executive Bureau is that nominations for the internal party race take place on Tuesday, October 13, followed by the convening of an Extraordinary Pan-Cypriot Electoral Assembly on Saturday, November 14,so that party members can select the party’s candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
The Executive Committee’s proposal is expected to be submitted for approval to the party’s Political Bureau, which is scheduled to convene toward the end of this week.
For at least four days, Averof Neophytou has been publicly hinting at whether he will ultimately enter the presidential race. Although he has been holding meetings and assembling a campaign team for months, he caused a stir last Wednesday, while the President of the Republic was in New York and just two days after reports surfaced that Anita Dimitriou intended to enter the race.
“If nothing happens this weekend, if everything remains bleak and stagnant, I’ll be a candidate. If things do start moving, we must all stand together behind whoever it may be.”
Averof Neophytou
From the very beginning, he distanced himself from the actions of the DISY leadership. The day after appearing on the Alpha Kalimera show, when asked whether he was considering running independently outside of DISY, he left all possibilities open.
“Will you run on your own? My dear, I’ll say it again: if the Cyprus problem remains unresolved and the hope for a united homeland endures, Averof will be a candidate. One way or another? My dear, it’s up to you. I will be a candidate.”
Reports indicate that a high-ranking party official unsuccessfully attempted to contact both the former and current party presidents in an effort to arrange another meeting. Everything was clear in his mind; he was simply waiting for Nikos Christodoulides’ plane to land in Larnaca so it wouldn’t appear that he hadn’t been waiting for the outcome in New York. Yesterday morning, he announced his candidacy.
“I am here, and I am submitting my candidacy for the 2028 Presidential Election.”
This was followed by his comments regarding the commitments made by Anita Dimitriou and her associate to support him in the 2028 presidential election, despite the fact that she denies that such a promise was made to the former president.
Averof’s announcement was accompanied by revelations in the Fileleftheros vidcast, about behind-the-scenes maneuvers and commitments made to him when the DISY president decided she would run again for the presidency of the House of Representatives and wanted his support. The focus was on the… secret dinner between the former president, Annita Dimitriou, and her closest associate at a well-known fish tavern in Nicosia. There, according to Averof Neophytou, the DISY president’s associate told him:
“You, who are concerned about getting Anita re-elected as Speaker of the House so that we can all stand united with you in the presidential election—know that I keep my word. This was said by her closest associate.”
Alpha’s sources report that this is a confidential associate of hers, a businessman who does not play an active role in the party’s leadership. Averof states that he supported Annita Dimitriou without expecting anything in return.
“I got her elected president twice.”
Although he does not admit to being annoyed by Annita Dimitriou’s stance, his bitterness is evident, which is why he lists a series of actions he believes benefited her.
“Who does Ms. Dimitriou have on her side? The one who got her elected Speaker of the House twice—when, the day after the election, they told her to ‘sit tight or you’ll get your face smashed in,’ someone stood by her side when they were pushing her around. Not for favors, but out of a sense of duty.”
No response
A few hours after his announcement, Averof Neophytou avoided answering whether he would ultimately run in the election race within or outside the internal party procedures of Synergatismos.
“Averof has never hurt the true Synergismos supporter, nor will he ever hurt him. The betrayed never betrays, but at the same time, the betrayed must ensure that he is not betrayed again.”
And, visibly disappointed, he speaks of “Alarm” leaders who trampled on unity and now present themselves as guardians of the party bylaws and internal procedures.
“Most of them turned unity and political ethics into scrap paper and threw them in the trash. Unity is not achieved through words alone.”
The party’s former president has called a press conference for tomorrow morning.
