They’ll never be sanctified

The issue of unity, the contradictions between averof and neophytou, and the stance the party will take if he is chosen

ALPHANEWSLIVE

The issue of unity, the contradictions between Averof and Neophytou, and the stance the party will take if he is chosen

Over there on Pindarou Street, they give the impression that they revel in introversion and problems. They struggled (if they ever managed to) to recover from the chaos of 2023. They’ve struggled (whatever may have happened in the meantime) to find a way forward regarding who will ultimately vie for the nomination for the ’28 presidential election.

And just when you thought they’d somehow managed to patch things up and would all march united toward 2028, along comes the bombshell from Averof Neophytou. The proposal by the former President of the Democratic Alarm—addressed to the President of the Republic—to lift sanctions against Russia, as part of efforts to address the energy crisis, sent shockwaves.

In February 2022, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine shook the world, the then-President of DISY stated verbatim in a video message:

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine, an independent and sovereign state, is unacceptable, and we condemn it unequivocally. Cyprus, a victim of invasion and ongoing occupation, cannot remain silent. We stand in full solidarity with the Ukrainian people. The European Union has an obligation to use every means at its disposal and take every possible step to put an end to the bloodshed.”

The invasion of Ukraine, however, continues, so I believe that Cyprus must continue to speak out. Nevertheless, Mr.Neophytou chose to put forward the proposal to lift sanctions, and this reveals not only the inconsistency of this long-time guardian of international law but also his divergence from the positions of his own party, which is fully aligned with the EU’s sanctions policy and has been quick to distance itself from his remarks.

Averof Neophytou is a candidate for the DISY nomination, and this inevitably raises legitimate questions. What will happen if he receives the mandate from the party’s base for the 2028 presidential election? What positions will he champion? His own personal views, or the party’s established positions?

According to the party’s bylaws, the DISY election campaign is led by the Deputy President, and of course the President also plays a role and has a say. If Mr. Neophytou is the chosen candidate, will these figures remain on the same page, or will disagreements begin even before they reach the general election in February 2028?

Averof Neophytou, very recently, at a press conference on September 28, criticized his own party, stating characteristically that “Nicholas is more of an opposition figure than DISY itself.” So should we assume that, as an intra-party candidate, he will step forward by charting his own opposition course, since he considers—as he said—DISY to be a tacit coalition partner? Let’s not forget at this point the recent statements by Annita Dimitriou, who left open the possibility of supporting Nikos Christodoulides in the second round of the presidential election, in the event that the Democratic Rally candidate does not succeed.

All of this tends to create, once again, a confrontational environment that causes more confusion than it does clarity. Under no circumstances (at least for now) does there appear to be a genuine spirit of unity aimed at winning the presidency in 2028.