Concern over the direction the Democratic Alarm is taking, with DISY Political Bureau Member Michalis Sophocleous expressing concern from the studio of the Alpha Enime.
“I am deeply concerned, which is why I attended all the meetings after three years. It had been three years since I last attended a collective body of the Democratic Alarm. Because you feel—and I think every citizen feels this, whether they are a member of the Democratic Alarm or not. Traditionally, since 1976, the Democratic Alarm has been a serious, responsible political force; whether you agree or disagree with it, you respect the views it expresses regarding its vision for Cyprus and its goals, and it consistently faces the electoral process to earn the trust of Cypriot citizens. What is being set in stone from 2023 onward—and even earlier; that is, I consider 2018 to be the beginning of the crisis—is not 2023, but now is not the time to discuss it; what is taking shape are the elements that define the character of this political party.”
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He refers to the five elements a political organization needs to exist and argues that it has been weak in recent years.
“We have a bad government in Cyprus, a government that is falling short on key national issues, and the country needs a political change,” he states, arguing that this political change must come from the Democratic Alarm.
“Unfortunately, with everything that’s happening, not only is the need for political change at stake, but—and allow me to say this, though it saddens me just to say it and think about it— the very survival of the Democratic Alarm is also at stake.”
He emphasizes that his own statements in recent days have nothing to do with any one person but with the need for this political faction to rise again, standing tall and proud, to stand by what it believes in.
When asked to comment on his confrontation with Anita Dimitriou, Mr. Sophocleous states that Ms. Dimitriou would have been in the right if she had been invited to participate somewhere and had refused. “It was an unfortunate attack by Ms. Nita Dimitriou against me at that moment—one I consider inappropriate and misguided,” he said, adding that she contacted him afterward and some explanations were provided.
“The problem isn’t with Michalis Sophocleous or any individual leader. The problem is this impression of division and the pursuit of positions as the top priorities of those who hold the reins at Democratic Alarm. That’s not what Democratic Alarm used to be. The Democratic Alarm was first and foremost about its goals, and yes, of course, the Democratic Alarm is a right-wing party. There are ambitions, and they are both reasonable and legitimate. But the ambition is that you can better implement the party’s policies and visions. Not the ambition that “I can sit in that chair better.” And that’s the impression that’s been given. And that impression must be reversed.”
He clarifies that he is not referring to anyone in particular and cites the May elections as an example, when the result achieved was the worst in the Democratic Alarm’s history, but a great success under the circumstances.
“That could have been a springboard—both for a call for genuine unity, not just unity for show, and for a political realignment. Unfortunately, neither happened. Instead of unity, perhaps the prevailing view was that this was an opportunity to settle scores. And instead of political realignment, we continue to see the same picture.”
When asked how a repeat of 2023 could be avoided, he states that he understands Averof Neophytou’s reaction and indignation, but he cannot justify any behavior similar to that of Nikos Christodoulides in 2023.
He comments that the party leadership’s maneuvers were based on the logic of excluding the others before the two-week extension was granted, noting that, as they were formulated, they are not stifling.
“Do you know what bothers people the most? They see their leaders constantly making decisions in reaction to events. Decisions made in the heat of the moment. Decisions are never right when they’re made that way. In the midst of the crisis, they see even the leaders of this paradoxical situation holding a can of gasoline and pouring it on the fire instead of holding the fire extinguisher. Some must also hold the fire extinguisher so that more reasonable views can prevail—views that will help ensure a fair and robust process, both within the party now and during the upcoming election campaign.”
He explains the label “lone wolf” he applied to Anita Dimitriou, clarifying that he used it in reference to her bid to reclaim the Speakership of the Parliament and that the impression was given that they wanted it all— both the Speakership of the House and the Presidency of the Republic, as well as absolute power within the party.
She opposes the practice that was adopted “instinctively,” noting that you cannot change the goalposts depending on the goal you want to score; rather, the goalposts must remain in place, and the strategy must be adjusted to achieve the objective.
“You know, the Democratic Alarm cannot say, on the one hand, ‘I’m proud of this process of mine, and I’ll turn to the members,’ and on the other hand, say, ‘Let’s end this because this process is hurting us.’That’s a contradiction.”
When asked if he believes Mr. Neophytou will seek the DISY nomination through the party’s procedures, Mr. Sophocleous stated that he is not in close contact with him.
“I don’t want to believe it—I’ve worked with him and fought alongside Averof Neophytou in the 2023 presidential race— I don’t want to believe that Mr. Neophytou could do anything reminiscent of what he went through in 2023. I don’t want to believe we’ll end up there. It is not right for us to get there, and it is not right for the sake of what this country needs.”
