Revelations have emerged regarding the presence of Frixos Koulermos, publisher of the newspaper “Alithia” and a longtime DISY official, at yesterday’s meeting between party President Annita Dimitriou, former party President Averof Neophytou, and party MP Giorgos Pamporidis, which led to Ms. Dimitriou’s decision to withdraw her candidacy for the Democratic Rally’s nomination for the 2028 presidential election. According to reports, Mr. Koulermos was present at the initial meeting between Dimitriou and Neophytou and subsequently stayed for a few minutes in the DISY President’s office on the fifth floor of the Pindarou building when Mr. Pamborides arrived.
Appearing as a guest on RIK’s program “First News,” George Pamborides confirmed the reports regarding Mr. Koulermos’s presence and that he had received “advice” from him, which he rejected.
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“He urged me to back down if I want to have a political future.”
At the same time, Mr. Pamporidis expressed understanding for the need of older people to advise younger ones “usually with a paternalistic approach” and emphasized that he has no issues with Mr. Kouloumos, has never had a relationship with him, and has never been dependent on him in any way.
“It seems that everyone has to bring their guardian to these meetings. I didn’t go with anyone; I went on my own. Mr. Koulermos is not only a publisher; he is also a founding member of DISY, and that may be why he was involved in the process. I’m telling you, the non-establishment figures are non-establishment figures, but they have nothing to do with me and have never influenced me.”
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Giorgos Pamboridis also commented on Annita Dimitriou’s decision to withdraw from the party’s “race,” emphasizing that “I am deeply saddened that I saw the President withdraw her candidacy yesterday, and I say this with a clear conscience.
“Anita Dimitriou has proven that she is more ethical than any of us.”
He expressed the view that the DISY President had come under pressure and rose to the occasion, since “it would have been very difficult for her to lose the race.”
“Her victory was almost certain, and she demonstrated that she prioritizes the party’s best interests over her personal ambitions at a particularly critical moment. / Today, I declare to you that Annita Dimitriou’s action is an act of integrity and brings her immense honor. She had my admiration, and yesterday she earned my profound respect.”
READ ALSO: “She was subjected to a coordinated smear campaign”: Pamporidis expresses absolute respect and unwavering support for Anita Dimitriou
Both the Executive Director and the Press Secretary of the Democratic Alarm were asked to comment on the role of Frixos Koulermos in Annita Dimitriou’s decision to withdraw her candidacy, Onoufrios Koulla, Executive Director and Press Secretary of the Democratic Alarm, was also asked to comment on the Alpha Kalimera program. When asked whether pressure had been exerted on Ms. Dimitriou, he replied with a categorical “no” and attributed Mr. Koulermos’s participation in the meeting to the fact that he is a long-standing party official.
“It’s not forbidden. Mr. Koulermos has come many times; he’s a longtime party leader, we talk with him, and he has visited the faction’s offices on several occasions; he felt it was appropriate to attend this meeting as well, which had been called that day by the faction chair following the executive committee meeting.”
Responding to a question about the role he played in that particular meeting, he states that this is not the case and that he knows firsthand noting that the Chairwoman’s decision from the previous day was already heading in that direction.
“Because I know this one thousand percent, I don’t think it was a coincidence that she came to the Executive Committee that morning and said that she would try to arrange this meeting. At the time we were in the Executive Committee, when she said she would arrange this meeting, we didn’t even know if Mr. Pamboridis and Averof Neophytou’s schedules would allow them to meet on the same day. It could have been Friday—today.”
READ ALSO: Behind the Words: How We Got to Anita’s Withdrawal and Everything That Happened on the 5th Floor of the Pindarou Building
