The waters in Pindaros are choppy just a few days before the deadline for submitting candidacies. The sharp exchanges show no sign of ending, with Giorgos Pamporidis, speaking on PLUS, accusing Averof Neophytou of political blackmail, arguing that the threat of his running as an independent forced Anita Dimitriou to withdraw. The presidential candidate has pledged to respect internal party procedures, but he is making this a condition for Averof Neophytou as well.
“If I’m not chosen by DISY, I won’t run. So I’m asking for the same commitment from my opponent. And I’m making it a prerequisite for my own commitment to hold. Because we can’t play games with the people of Synagermos.”
George Pamporidis
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Revealing that the former DISY president pledged before the chairwoman to respect the outcome. Averof Neophytou, however, experienced an important day today, as revealed through a cryptic post on social media. Reports indicate that it refers to the video of his announcement.
READ ALSO: Averof’s mysterious post: He poses in a green screen studio wearing casual clothes and talks about a “very important day”
Christodoulides is in the frame
Amid a tense atmosphere, Nicos Anastasiades confirms reports from “Alpha on Sunday” regarding behind-the-scenes contacts ahead of internal party elections, while he favors Nicos Christodoulides for the second round if the DISY candidate fails to secure a spot. He revealed this on the ANT1 Live Podcast.
“There should be an agreement between the two: whoever does not make it to the second round will support the other under strict terms of cooperation. I have not betrayed and will not betray the party, despite what has been said by some who like to act as if they are more royalist than the king.”
READ ALSO: “A Message of Defeatism”: Karousos’s Response to Anastasiades, Who Proposed a Preliminary Agreement Between DISY and Christodoulides
One of the party’s vice presidents repeated his well-known phrase about those who play both sides during an appearance on the Alpha Kalimera show, disagreeing with the approach of the former President of the Republic.
“We shouldn’t discuss this issue in this way. That sends a message of defeatism. I won’t accept someone being at the Presidential Palace in the morning and at Pindarou in the evening.”
Yiannis Karousos
Who is Pheidias considering?
According to information from the newspaper “Fileleftheros,” Direct Democracy is sounding out three candidates for the presidential race. These include John Christodoulou, who expressed interest just a few hours after the article was published, as well as Mike Spanos. He was nearly an AKEL candidate in 2018 and also served as an advisor to Fidias Panayiotou on the Cyprus issue. In fact, he represented Panayiotou at a meeting of the National Council. The party, however, denies that he was included on the list.
“That does not correspond to reality. Let me speak on behalf of the source.”
READ ALSO: Anastasiades in the role of firefighter: The former president’s moves and “no’s” to prevent DISY from “splitting in two”
Pheidias Panayiotou is also in close contact with Averof Neophytou, though he does not rule out support for Christodoulides.
See the report by Evangelos Agapios:
