The different path taken with Averof, the growing distance from Anita, and the clear barbs of skepticism
Haris Georgiadis’s move to convey, via a letter to DISY President Anita Dimitriou, that he would not support Averof Neophytou if the latter were ultimately nominatedwas enough to shatter any illusory image of unity that had been attempted to be cultivated in recent days. By referring to “blatant political blackmail,” she did not merely launch an attack on the former DISY President for his actions, but openly challenged party President Anita Dimitriou. Both for her handling of the situation, which did not allow for a “level-headed political process,” and for her acceptance of this blackmail. His stance, therefore, not only highlighted the deep-seated internal divisions and long-standing personal conflicts but also sparked a discussion about how all of this will affect the future the party, and the leadership of DISY.
Support for Anita
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Ever since he was a child, he would see in his sleep… the Presidency
Averoff vs. Pamporidis and the Symbolism of the Two Candidacies
For Anita Dimitriou, Haris Georgiadis was not just another party official. On the contrary, he was one of the leading figures in the Anastasiades administration who remained close to her and supported her from the time of her election onward. She played a key role in the House of Representatives on economic matters while serving as a member of parliament, as well as within the party in managing various situations. She was the one who built bridges with a faction of DIKO, even presenting a study on potential alliances with the Center in the run-up to the presidential election. This was, after all, a strategy that Anita Dimitriou tried to capitalize on in her bid for the presidency of the House of Representatives. She, too, however, wanted him by her side at all costs, offering him a position at the Glafkos Clerides Institute, asking him to accompany her on visits to Athens, and was even prepared to tacitly accept a possible appointment of his by Nikos Christodoulides to the position of European Commissioner, when the rumors had begun. Mr. Georgiadis therefore participated in the controversial meeting at Pindarou where Anita Dimitriou decided to run for office. He was also one of the people she spoke with by phone to inform him that she was ultimately withdrawing her candidacy. From that moment on, he expressed his disagreement with how the entire matter was handled. Not regarding whether or not the DISY President would be a candidate, but regarding the way events unfolded, which he believed left the party vulnerable and set a bad precedent. He made it clear that he himself would not participate if Averof Neophytou were the candidate and verbally conveyed to her the same points he had outlined in the letter.
A long-standing feud
The letter, therefore, did not come as a bolt from the blue for Anita Dimitriou, who called him after the letter was made public to discuss the issue of Glafkos Clerides’ continued tenure at the InstituteGlafkos Clerides. However, the reason why he is so vehemently opposed to Averof Neophytou’s candidacy is a topic of discussion from time to time. The underlying disagreement between the two dates back to the day after Nicos Anastasiades’ election. When Haris Georgiadis asked Nicos Anastasiades for the Foreign Ministry and refused to be reappointed to the Ministry of Finance, Averof Neophytou was seen as siding with Nicos Christodoulides through his actions. It wasn’t just the infamous suit he wore when he was finally appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs that sent the message of support, but also the leaks from those days that portrayed Haris Georgiadis “as someone who wants everything for himself.” All of this, of course, stemmed from rumors that Haris Georgiadis—who, as Minister of Finance during the bailout period, had strengthened his political position—had his sights set on the party presidency. In fact, quite a few party officials believe that if he hadn’t been forced to serve a second term as Minister of Finance, he wouldn’t have suffered the significant political damage associated with the Cooperative Bank scandal, and perhaps the political landscape would have beenfor him. Those close to Averof Neophytou have given the impression that —even though he was in charge of the election campaign—he never believed in or supported Neophytou’s candidacy and that, at least today, he is openly expressing his disagreement. This may be linked to the fact that Mr. Georgiadis had expressed his annoyance when they later learned of polls showing Averof Neophytou at 6% and he highlighted this in his post-election analysis of the results. Their conflict, of course, became public between the first and second rounds of the presidential election. Haris Georgiadis strongly disagreed with the move to “go beyond,” with the fact that the DISY voter registry—or part of it—was handed over to Andreas Mavroyiannis’s campaign team, and certainly with the former DISY President’s handling of the internal party elections DISY. Not only because they were announced on the night of the defeat —thus leaving him no room to maneuver—but also because Averof Neophytou was initially going to run again instead of withdrawing. The disagreements were, of course, political as well. Haris Georgiadis fully supported Nicos Anastasiades’ account of the collapse at Crans-Montana, speaking of a new realism that forces us to acknowledge that partition is a de facto reality, while Averof Neophytou took a very different approach.
Leadership on Shaky Ground
However much the criticism is directed at Averof Neophytou, this stance also leaves the leadership itself wounded. The first issue on which he appears to have disagreed is the fact that there was no process prior to the nominations to determine whether DISY could form alliances with other parties, but instead rushed headlong into the election campaign. He subsequently expressed his annoyance when the meeting and agreement at the fish tavern were made public, making it clear to her as well that a party cannot be bound by statements made outside of official channels. And while Anita Dimitriou made it clear that there was no issue of political blackmail, Haris Georgiadis, in his letter, challenged not only that but also the narrative that followed regarding Anita Dimitriou’s sacrifice for unity.
The involvement of non-party members in the Democratic Alarm, as revealed by Averof Neophytou, raised questions about collusion that may extend to Pindarou. This, combined with the narrative “for the sake of unity”—which led to the withdrawal of Anita Dimitriou—reinforced the belief in political blackmail; not only have these questions gone unanswered, but it appears they will continue to haunt the party leadership for some time.
The Day After
Anita Dimitriou has not only lost an ally at this moment but is also seeing issues resurface that are personally damaging to her. It is precisely in this context that the question has arisen as to what Haris Georgiadis aims to achieve with his statement. According to information from “Alpha on Sunday,” his statement is the first step toward other officials taking divergent positions once Averof Neophytou takes a stance on issues primarily concerning the Cyprus problem. Consequently, quite a few people believe that this favors—whether intentionally or unintentionally—the candidacy of Nikos Christodoulides. However, there also appears to be some unease among officials who supported Averof Neophytou in 2023. Many do not view the removal of Onoufrios Koulas from his position as press secretary as a coincidence, even if it is said to be due to a lack of time. Averof Neophytou also seems to understand the implications. And although officials in his inner circle speak of masks that have fallen, the truth is that the consequences of this move are cause for concern. It is no coincidence that he has canceled all his media appearances and is focusing on meetings and phone calls with his base.
But this is precisely what is fueling the voices that see Haris Georgiadis as a potential counterweight to DISY, especially following his recent statement. This was preceded, after all, by his meeting with Nicos Anastasiades, who told him that although he would be the party’s most suitable candidate, it is now too late for him to run. This move demonstrates that he, too, had been considering running. However, his latest move appears to have upset the party’s rising stars. It is no coincidence that Yiannis Karousos immediately disagreed with him, as Karousos makes no secret of his ambition for the presidency. Haris Georgiadis, however, is currently telling those around him that, following his letter, he is stepping back from political developments and going home. This puts an end to the rumors that he was essentially backing Nikos Christodoulides’ candidacy. However, whether he is ready to leave politics is a question that will become clear in due course.
