She has not yet made her decision, but Anita Dimitriou is open to receiving the Democratic Alarm’s nomination for the 2028 presidential election, as stated by Efthymios Diplaros, Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Alarm, from the studio of the Alpha Kalimera show, following a meeting of the party leadership, during which the disagreements of the past few days were addressed.
“Yesterday was the first leadership meeting since the summer. And based on everything that has been said recently, we felt this meeting was necessary; besides, it will be held again next Monday. Beyond that, the question raised by many leadership colleagues to the president was whether or not she is interested in running for the nomination in the party’s internal procedures.”
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When asked to comment on the “pressure” reported in the media, he stated that it was a question posed to Ms. Dimitriou, who replied that just as everyone has the right to put their name forward as a candidate to the party’s grassroots, she herself is also considering doing so, however, she has not yet made her decision, and when she does, she will inform the party leadership.
“It has become clear that there is a positive, at first glance, response to her being a candidate—I repeat, for the Democratic Alarm’s nomination for President of the Republic.”
When asked how much of a concern it is for the Democratic Alarm to have three names on the list of candidates, he stated that efforts will be made to narrow it down to a single candidate.
“Beyond that, even if there isn’t a single candidate and we have to go through internal party procedures to choose between two, three, four candidates, that should neither stress us out, nor trouble us, nor upset us—in what sense? And in the recent past, when in 2013 Nicos Anastasiades wanted to secure the nomination from the Supreme Council—at that time to run for President of the Republic— Eleni Theocharous ran against the then-President of the Democratic Rally.”
“What I believe those who run for the nomination but do not receive it will do is rally together behind the candidate who will be selected for the first time through democratic processes,” Mr. Diplaros points out.
When asked to comment on reports of a “coup” against Averof Neophytou in the previous presidential election, he responds that those events are in the past.
“What did and did not happen in 2023, and what should have been done from the outset but was not, belong to the past and are part of history.”
When asked if he is the person they say is at the Presidential Palace in the morning and at Pindarou Street by noon, he replies that he has personally visited the Presidential Palace twice.
“Personally, I’ve been to the Presidential Palace twice, both times accompanied by the party’s president. But that’s not the point. The point is something else. At this moment, since the Democratic Alarm decided it would run in the elections with its own candidate, and there are media reports that it will be either Averof Neophytou, or Anita Dimitriou, or George Pamborides, or anyone else. What I must ensure, as second in command and as Deputy Chairman, is, first and foremost, that a proper democratic process takes place without anyone contesting it.”
He goes on to emphasize that what we—the leadership and he personally—must ensure is that whoever does not receive the nomination must rally behind the candidate who is ultimately selected.
“This is where we need to focus. And let me tell you something. 2023 is over. Everything that happened is over. I’m saying this publicly and among ourselves. We said it yesterday, too. Whatever happened in 2023 is over. Mistakes of the past—certainly—we acknowledge them and say that mistakes were made. Let’s not repeat them, and that is the goal.”
Responding to a question about whether he agrees with Karousos’s position that anyone who supports Nikos Christodoulides should come out publicly and say so, he wonders if there might be a case where someone who wants to support anyone might choose not to do so publicly for many and various personal reasons.
“In 2023, mistakes were made on many issues. We are all to blame, and we all bear responsibility. Moving forward, our goal is to ensure they are not repeated. At the same time, I’ll say something I feel very strongly about, and I’ll keep saying it as long as I’m in this position: For me, no one is expendable in the Democratic Alarm. Period. We won’t hand over any “Alarm” members to just anyone. We want everyone on board, and to bring everyone together, we must listen to all those party officials who, for reason A, B, or C, took different approaches. That’s what we did in the parliamentary elections as well. In the parliamentary elections, we told our supporters that right now, our party is turning its gaze toward you, looking to you, and seeking your support—no matter what you did in 2021.”
When asked why the Democratic Alarm faces a crisis just before every election, he attributes it to the “many capable leaders,” and when asked to comment on the suggestion that the party has many people vying for positions, he responds that it is perfectly legitimate to have personal ambitions.
“What is not legitimate—and what the Democratic Alarm supporters will not forgive—is putting our personal ambitions above the party and certainly above the country. This has happened in the past and may happen again in the future. Beyond that, we must set aside all our personal ambitions, take a step back, and recognize that we achieved a positive result in the parliamentary elections. We must keep this in mind and determine how we move forward united.”
He also referred to the Cyprus issue, saying that there may be developments, a view he bases, as he says, on public statements.
“I want to believe—and we all want to believe—that there will be a development that will open a new round of negotiations and talks, picking up where we left off in Crans-Montana.”
When asked to comment on the appointment of Nikos Tornaritis and whether DISY’s reaction amounts to a double standard, he states that the issue was briefly touched upon during the leadership meeting.
“We said this is what happened. Whatever happened, this appointment took place. We’re not going to add fuel to the fire or get caught up in debating who is or isn’t part of the Alarmist faction. Beyond that, we say that in this faction—at least for me personally, and I believe for the President as well—no one is expendable. We want them all by our side. We want them all by our side when our candidate is selected, so they can rally behind this leadership, behind this candidate.”
Finally, he maintains that by the end of November or early December, the Democratic Alarm must make its decision regarding the elections, emphasizing that it is important to resolve misunderstandings and clarify who is staying and who is leaving, so that the campaign platform can be announced.
