AKEL is moving steadily toward the 2028 election. The goal, through consultation with other political forces, is to find a joint candidate with the best chance of winning the presidential election.

Alma, the Ecologists, Volt, Direct Democracy, and EDEK are among Stefanos’s potential partners for cooperation. DIKO is also on the list, though with some reservations.

ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ

19.10.2026 14:32

Stefanos on Averof: “We didn’t ask for anything, and we have nothing to give in return.”

19.10.2026 11:42

Averof’s proposal: How Orfanidou and Pasiourtidis are commenting on the issue of lifting Russian sanctions

“While the party is the main party in the government, isn’t it a bit of an oxymoron to support the government and talk about change?”
_{Stefanos Stefanou – Secretary-General of AKEL}

The selection of the Left’s candidate will be based on political criteria. Convergence on the Cyprus issue and shared views on the rule of law, sustainable development, and protection against inequalities and economic insecurity. The AKEL Secretary-General states that the party has not yet sounded out any individual with the intention of running as a candidate, despite the fact that names are being floated. However, Stefanos Stefanou does not rule himself out either.

“It would be absurd to go out and find a candidate and tell him to run without first discussing whether we can actually field him as a candidate. Things like that don’t happen—it’s just making a mockery of the public.”
_{Stefanos Stefanou – Secretary-General of AKEL}

He’s winking

And while the internal party process in DISY is still underway, Averof Neophytou chose to repost on his personal social media accounts an excerpt from the interview given by Nicolas Papadopoulos on Sunday’s Alpha TV, in an attempt to build bridges with DIKO.

“We have worked together with Averof Neophytou on many issues. You will very rarely hear me criticize Averof Neophytou.”
_{Nicholas Papadopoulos – DIKO President}

“The Averof Transformation”

AKEL also partially distances itself from Averof Neophytou’s position on lifting energy sanctions against Russia, despite the fact that it does not disagree outright as DISY does; but it believes that lifting the sanctions alone cannot provide relief to households. However, Stefanos Stefanou makes it clear that no backroom deals have taken place.

“People easily see through these shifts. What’s needed is consistency and stability.”
_{Stefanos Stefanou – Secretary-General of AKEL}

DISY continues to oppose its potential candidate regarding this specific proposal.

Watch Evangelos Agapios’s report: