“We can’t act like tough guys and step outside the rules just to flatter certain voters,” says the Democratic Alarm candidate for the Democratic Alarm’s nomination for the 2028 presidential election, Giorgos Pamporidis, launching clear barbs at his opponent, Averof Neophytou.
Appearing as a guest on the “Alpha News” program, he defended Cyprus’s commitment to international law and its European course, commenting on Mr. Neophytou’s position on lifting energy sanctions against Russia and stating that Cyprus, given its size, has no choice but to remain committed to the principles and values of international law and to its European identity. He insisted, in fact, that the country cannot adopt positions outside this framework for pre-election reasons.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“My candidacy can win the election”
At the same time, he reiterated his conviction that he can lead the Democratic Alarm Party to victory in the 2028 presidential election, arguing that his candidacy can unite the party base and attract broader political forces. When asked about his assessment that, if selected by the DISY grassroots, he could make a strong bid for the Presidency of the Republic, he clarified that this is a political argument and not merely a campaign pledge.
“I sincerely believe that my candidacy can, on the one hand, unite the Democratic Rally’s grassroots and, on the other hand, appeal to the other political forces that are needed,” he said. He argued that his candidacy could help overcome internal party conflicts and allow the party to regain the public’s trust. At the same time, he insisted that DISY cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of 2023, calling on its members to actively participate in the candidate selection process.
The possibility of a national salvation government remains open
Moreover, Mr. Pamborides leaves open the possibility of ELAM participating in a government of national salvation or national unity, provided that its goal is to resolve the Cyprus problem,
When asked about the possibility of cooperating with ELAM in a government coalition, he made it clear that he does not consider such a development possible under normal conditions of governance. He did, however, raise the possibility of his party participating in a special-purpose government that would undertake the effort to resolve the national issue.
“If they wish to contribute to an effort within a government of national salvation or national unity to resolve our national issue, then we have no taboos,” he stated.
The “No” to the Annan Plan and the Dispute with Averof
George Pamborides also clearly distanced himself from Averof Neophytou regarding the Cyprus issue, highlighting the differing stances the two took during the 2004 referendum on the Annan Plan. He recalled that he had disagreed with the DISY leadership at the time and had publicly supported the “no” vote, believing that the developments in Crans-Montana, in his personal opinion, proved right those who had rejected the plan.
“The fact that Mr. Neophytou supported the ‘yes’ vote and I supported the ‘no’ vote is, I think, a fairly obvious difference,” he noted, responding to a question about the political differences that separate him from his opponent.
Referring to the future of the Cyprus issue, he emphasized the need for broader political consensus on the domestic front in order to clearly define the limits of the concessions the Greek Cypriot side can accept. As he explained, international developments may create new conditions for resolving the Cyprus issue, and he warned that Cyprus must be prepared, both at the societal level and at the level of political leadership.
“Let’s turn the page” at DISY
George Pamborides reiterated the need for a change of course within the Democratic Rally, noting that the party cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of 2023. As he stated, his goal is to contribute to the unity of the party’s base, leaving behind the dilemmas that led to dead ends and drove some voters away from DISY’s traditional choices.
Regarding the economy, he argued that a free-market economy should not be an end in itself, but rather a tool for social welfare and for supporting the most vulnerable segments of the population. As a prime example of his disagreement with Averof Neophytou, he cited the General Health System, noting that he himself had supported the reform, while his opponent had opposed it.
The electricity interconnection and relations with the EU, Israel, and the U.S.
He also made special mention of Cyprus’s electricity interconnection with Europe and Israel, describing the project as crucial for ending the country’s energy isolation.
At the same time, he emphasized that strengthening relations with Israel and the United States must not come at the expense of the Republic of Cyprus’s relations with the European Union.
As he noted, the European family is the top priority of Cyprus’s foreign policy, warning that positive public statements from third countries cannot replace the strategic relationship with European partners.
In conclusion, Mr. Pamborides stated that, should he secure the DISY nomination, he would seek to address the public with concrete proposals on the major issues facing the country, as well as the everyday problems faced by citizens, while avoiding personal confrontations.
