A revealing look at what’s happening within the Democratic Alarm party was featured on the new Apha Cyprus show “Bras De Fer” with Emilia Kenevezou, the party’s president and Speaker of the House, Anita Dimitriou. She spoke of slanderous and baseless allegations regarding “personal blackmail” aimed at politically damaging her, while admitting that she had “fallen out” with Averof Neophytou. She emphasized the need for unity within the Pindarou faction and questioned why she should resign from her position as Speaker, while describing the party’s management as a “minefield.”
Ms. Dimitriou revealed that her first thought was to accept Haris Georgiadis’s resignation from the leadership of the “Glafkos Clerides” Institute, ruled out the possibility that DISY would support AKEL’s candidate in the second round of the 2028 presidential election, and expressed strong interest in running again for the position ofof the Democratic Rally.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“There was never any personal blackmail”
Ms. Dimitriou responded forcefully to reports of personal blackmail, describing the allegations linked to her decision to withdraw her candidacy for the DISY nomination. She attributed the rumors to an attempt to politically eliminate her, explaining that she does not know where they originated and expressing her annoyance at their circulation. At the same time, she called on those involved in politics to focus on policy positions and arguments, setting aside personal jabs and insinuations.
Anita Dimitriou also referred to the difficulties women face in politics, noting that some people find it hard to accept a woman in such a position.
See the relevant excerpt:
Why she withdrew her candidacy
The DISY President insisted that her decision was not the result of “political immaturity,” but rather an assessment of the facts and risks that were emerging at that time, with the possibility that Averof Neophytou might run for President of the Republic outside the party’s internal process.
As she explained, political developments can change in a matter of minutes, and under those specific circumstances, she felt she could not refrain from making a decision that concerned the party. She acknowledged that her own candidacy could influence the process, emphasizing that the position of DISY President is not that of a mere party official, such as Mr. Neophytou.
The decision, she said, was personal and deliberate, and she noted that there were people who felt relieved by this development, while she rejected claims that she withdrew because the polls were not in her favor, noting that, at this stage prior to the presidential election, polls have no real significance.
The “bitterness” regarding Averof Neophytou
Responding to a question about her relationship with Averof Neophytou, the DISY President described it as excellent and emphasized that if he were elected President of the Republic, working with him would be “a breeze.”
She did not hide, however, that the developments had upset her, noting that this is only human. As she mentioned, information had been passed back and forth between the two sides, implying that a discussion between them should have been sought beforehand.
She emphasized that disagreements and difficult moments are part of politics, just as they are in every family, insisting that issues can be discussed calmly.
See the relevant excerpt:
My first thought about Haris
Referring to Haris Georgiadis, Anita Dimitriou revealed that she initially considered accepting his resignation from the helm of the “Glafkos Clerides Institute,” however, she discussed the matter with the party leadership and decided to make an effort to resolve the situation. As she said, she spoke with him by phone, and they are expected to meet in the coming days.
She emphasized that DISY’s candidacy has not yet been finalized, expressing her intention to continue efforts to bring all party members closer together. “We are not a police-state party; we are a party of free-thinking minds,” she said, emphasizing that the party must allow for discussion and disagreement.
Unity, he said, cannot remain merely theoretical but requires everyone’s contribution. He also warned that a weak DISY would have an impact on the policies the country needs to move forward.
“Why should I resign?”
The DISY President also rejected the possibility of resigning from the party’s leadership, questioning why she should step down simply because she made a decision aimed at unity. She stated that she does not feel she is under scrutiny and that she has no intention of giving up, as long as the public continues to trust her.
Despite the difficulties, she argued that DISY has proven it can cope, recalling that there had been predictions that the party would not be able to stand on its own two feet or would perform poorly in the 2026 parliamentary elections. Regarding the party’s operations, she noted that she listens to party officials and that she will continue to keep her door open even to citizens who do not belong to DISY. She made it clear, however, that the final decisions are made by her alone.
She did not fail to note, however, that managing the party often resembles a “minefield” where “backstabbing,” disagreements, and tensions are not uncommon.
The Message to Christodoulides
Anita Dimitriou defended the political role of DISY, arguing that the party is the one that sets center-right policies, not President of the Republic Nicos Christodoulides.
She referred to differences on specific policies, noting that DISY will continue to engage responsibly, whether it is in the opposition or holds a different political position. He cited tax reform as an example.
Regarding the 2028 presidential election, he expressed his conviction that DISY’s candidate can advance to the second round, emphasizing that the candidate’s vision and platform will be shaped based on the party’s political positions. At the same time, she made it clear that there is no way DISY would support an AKEL candidate in the second round of the presidential election, arguing that a victory for the Left would be detrimental.
Her stance on Nikos Tornaritis and Tina Pavlou
Regarding Nikos Tornaritis’s decision to assume the role of Special Political Representative for the Cyprus Issue in Asia and Africa, Anita Dimitriou stated that this was his own decision, with which she did not agree.
As for Tina Pavlou, who took over the portfolio of Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, she wished her success on a personal level, noting that she had expected to have been briefed beforehand and explaining that she was not a top-tier executive at Pindar.
The Cyprus Issue, Accuracy, the Budget, and Pheidias
Regarding the Cyprus issue, the DISY President expressed concern about the course of developments, as key milestones approach regarding the end of the UN Secretary-General’s term and, potentially, the mission of María Ángela Olguín. As he noted, there have been no results so far, clarifying that this does not mean he is placing the blame on the Greek Cypriot side. In fact, she warned that as time goes on, the situation is becoming more difficult.
The DISY President also referred to the financial pressure households are facing, noting that people are suffocating under inflation and the rising cost of living. Regarding the state budget, she argued that leaving the state without funds is not a solution.
Regarding the proposals put forward by Fidias Panagiotou, he reiterated that several of them align with DISY’s policy positions, while he wondered whether the much-talked-about video he made with him would have been better suited to a discussion behind closed doors.
“The greatest cost is personal time”
On a more personal note, Anita Dimitriou spoke about the difficulties of politics and the toll it takes on her personal life. She admitted that she often feels sad and overwhelmed, but she also mentioned the people who support her, speaking of the wonderful community at DISY.
She cited the times she acted hastily as her biggest mistake, noting that it’s not a bad thing to acknowledge one’s mistakes, even when a statement might be interpreted differently than originally intended.
The greatest cost, she said, is the lack of personal time and the limited time she can devote to her family, something that causes her remorse.
Running for the DISY Presidency Again?
Regarding what lies ahead after the completion of her three terms in Parliament, she stated that DISY is her political family and left open the possibility of running again for the presidency, though she has not yet made a decision.
“My plan is not yet complete,” was her message, as she expressed her commitment to addressing today’s challenges and to efforts to strengthen the presence of young people and women in politics.
