It was a press conference that was not directed at the Democratic Alarm party itself or at internal party procedures, as one might expect. It featured proposals on which DISY will inevitably be called upon to take a position.
Averof Neophytou spoke as someone who had already received the party’s nomination and whose goal, as a presidential candidate, is now to reach out either to other political forces or to awider audience than that of DISY, even from the Left.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Presidents of the republic of cyprus who have visited turkey
The goal is clearly to convince voters that he has proposals for all critical issues, such as the Cyprus problem and the economy. Given that the Cyprus issue—which he had made his flagship issue in recent times—is receding into the background, he is now placing greater emphasis on precision.
This is the context for the groundbreaking proposal he has put forward to lift Russian sanctions—a proposal that followed Trump’s lead. It is a proposal that can be interpreted in two ways. The first is that, at a time when the main problem facing society is the high cost of living, he is proposing a solution that will bring relief to a large segment of society. It certainly sounds appealing and is expected to make a strong impression on a significant audience, given that the high cost of living has brought many households to their knees. We’d like to remind you that Fidias Panagiotou is also organizing a protest this Saturday over electricity prices.
Beyond the economic aspect, however, such a proposal has clear political implications. Beyond the inconsistency—if we consider Mr. Neophytou’s position at the time of the Russian invasion of Ukraine— the strong stance taken by DISY as well as the European People’s Party in favor of sanctions against Russia, there is also a matter of principle. We are the first to demand that international law be respected. Sanctions were the way in which the international community demonstrated that violations of international law have consequences. What message, then, is being sent both internationally and to us, a country that has experienced invasion and occupation? But what does such a reversal mean for the EU itself?
It is obvious that Averof Neophytou is attempting a rebranding with more populist stances on political issues. He believes that his positions up until 2023 have cost him dearly. He will certainly have to provide explanations for this complete change of stance. Along with that, it would be wise for him to explain what led to Anita Dimitriou’s resignation. Because the prevailing rumors about the role he played certainly do not help him politically among the “Alarm” audience.
