The strategy being pursued by the two contenders for the Democratic Alarm’s “nomination” for the 2028 presidential election, as well as the findings from the poll conducted by RAI Consultants on behalf of Alpha Cyprus, were discussed by communications expert and CEO of Gnora, Andreas Hatzikyriakos.
As a guest on the Alpha News program, he analyzed the significant percentage “gap” between Averof Neophytou and Giorgos Pamborides recorded by the poll, noting that the former DISY President has been preparing for this process for some time now, regardless of who his opponent might be, while the former Minister of Health is still in the preparation phase and is now essentially entering the pre-election process.
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As he explained, Averof Neophytou’s avoidance of public debates and direct confrontation is part of the classic strategy followed by a frontrunner in an intra-party contest, in order to prevent his opponent from gaining greater visibility and momentum.
At the same time, he noted that Giorgos Pamporidis is attempting to provoke this contest, seeking to claim more space in the public discourse and to publicize his positions.
READ THE POLL: Alpha Poll: Clear Lead for Averof Over Pamporidis—How Will Christodoulides’ Voters Vote?
A 34-point lead and voter turnout
Referring to the poll’s findings, the communications expert highlighted the 34-point lead that Averof Neophytou holds over Giorgos Pamboridis, in the second phase of the survey, after Anita Dimitriou had withdrawn from the race.
He also placed particular emphasis on the 27% share, which comprises those who are undecided, say they will not vote, choose to cast a blank or invalid ballot, or do not respond. As she pointed out, even if all these voters were to support Giorgos Pamboridis, they would not be able to close the gap in favor of Averof Neophytou.
At the same time, he emphasized the intention of DISY members to participate, noting that approximately 60% of those surveyed stated they were certain they would go to the polls.
Mr. Hatzikyriakos recalled that in the 2023 internal party elections to select the party’s new leadership between Annita Dimitriou and Dimitris Dimitriou, voter turnout was limited to 41%. He therefore noted that it will be particularly interesting to see whether turnout in the November 28 election will be above or below that specific percentage, since, as he stated, voter turnout will also influence the momentum the winner gains the following day within the party.
READ PART ONE: RAI POLL: Citizens Evaluate the President and His Work
Where Did Anita’s Supporters Go?
Regarding Anita Dimitriou’s withdrawal from the internal party race, Mr. Hatzikyriakos assessed that this development did not create new circumstances that would overturn the picture painted by the poll. As he noted, supporters of the DISY President appear to have split between the two candidates, with some shifting their support to Averof Neophytou, quite a few toward Giorgos Pamboridis, while a significant percentage remains undecided or does not intend to vote.
What the 2023 vote and younger voters reveal
According to Mr. Hatzikyriakos, the findings regarding the voting behavior of DISY members in the 2023 presidential election are also of particular interest.
As he explained, one in five of those who participated in the poll and had voted for Nicos Christodoulides in 2023 comes from DISY’s hard-core base, a fact that demonstrates that approximately 20% of the members surveyed had chosen the current President of the Republic at that time. At the same time, he pointed out that approximately 37% of those who voted for Averof Neophytou in the 2023 presidential election do not appear to be supporting him again in the current internal party process.
Regarding the possibility of a strategic vote by supporters of Nikos Christodoulides, with the aim of influencing who will receive the DISY nomination and, by extension, who will face the President of the Republic, Mr. Hatzikyriakos noted that the gaps observed are difficult to bridge solely by this group of voters. Furthermore, he pointed out that these voters do not appear to be flocking en masse toward either of the two candidates, but are split between Averof Neophytou and Giorgos Pamboridis, with the remaining percentage remaining undecided or unwilling to vote.
Analyzing the age data, the communications expert noted that support for Averof Neophytou appears stronger among younger age groups, reaching 69% in the 18–29 age group, while among voters over 70, it stands at 45%. In contrast, Giorgos Pamporidis appears to have greater appeal among working-age and older age groups, with Mr. Hatzikyriakos noting that he enjoys significant support among those aged 45–50.
He clarified, however, that the findings pertain to party members and not the entire electorate, while a key factor remains whether younger voters will ultimately turn out at the polls.
Who Will Be the Next to Announce Their Candidacy
When asked to comment on the broader political dynamics leading up to the 2028 presidential election and to speculate on who will be the next to announce their candidacy, Andreas Hadjikyriakos stated that, based on political logic, the next person to announce their candidacy is expected to be the one who secures the support of AKEL, and possibly other parties as well.
As for Nicos Christodoulides, he assessed that, as the incumbent President of the Republic, he will seek to delay the announcement of his intentions for as long as possible, to the extent that the parties likely to support him will allow it. In fact, he estimated that such a development would occur either shortly before summer or immediately afterward.
SEE ALSO: Alpha Poll: Scenarios for the 2028 Presidential Election on Tonight’s Main News Broadcast
