DISY president Annita Dimitriou categorically rejects claims of pressure and blackmail that led to her decision to withdraw her candidacy for the party’s nomination for the 2028 presidential election, stating that “dignity cannot be slandered.”
Speaking on the “Alpha Enimerosi” program, she explained that it was not an easy decision, one made amid distress and concern for the need for DISY to remain united and strong. Ms. Dimitriou said that from her discussions over the past few days with party officials and members, she had detected great concern about a “catastrophic rift,” a fact that led her to take a step back and seek a way to defuse the tense situation.
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As she noted, what is said or written does not affect her and does not deter her from her goal of presenting and discussing policies and positions that will resolve citizens’ everyday problems, but also to remain a “guardian of unity” within the Democratic Alarm.
Ms. Dimitriou also addressed reports regarding the role of Frixos Koulermos, publisher of the newspaper Alithia and a founding member of DISY, who was present at the meeting with Averof Neophytou and Giorgos Pamboridis, emphasizing that she has never refused to meet with or listen to anyone and noting that “I decide what concerns me; I am responsible for what I say.”
The DISY President acknowledged that she was not the only one who had made efforts to find a consensual solution to the developments on Pindarou Street, while expressing uncertainty as to whether there would ultimately be a third candidate vying for the party’s nomination for the 2028 Presidential Election. He reiterated that the goal is to strictly adhere to the party’s internal procedures and noted that all members have the right to participate.
When asked about the announcement and the withdrawal of her candidacy within a few days, Ms. Dimitriou replied that both she and DISY officials believed she could not remain absent, evade the issue, or be absent from this process as party president. She then took into account the uncertainty, the anxiety, and the “cry of despair” raised by DISY supporters regarding the discussions that were hurting the party’s base.
The next day? Anita Dimitriou thanked the public for their support and noted that citizens, politicians, and journalists were overwhelmed with relief that a solution had been found, calm had prevailed, and that she herself had done what she needed to do.
When asked if she feels betrayed, the DISY President replies that she is “more aware than ever” that these matters are purely political, and that is how she will view them for as long as she remains at the party’s helm. And she makes it clear that no conditions were set for the withdrawal of her candidacy; rather, the only criterion that mattered was party unity.
As for whether DISY is willing to support a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic who diverges from the party’s core positions—such as the Cyprus-Greece electricity interconnection-Greece via the GSI pipeline, the party president said that the candidates are the former president of DISY and a former minister, with whom there is agreement on Pindarou’s positions, and that they are not “candidates dropped from the sky.” Were any contacts or discussions they’ve had regarding potential cooperation with other parties discussed? The DISY President jokingly pointed out that “we didn’t discuss anything like that” and “let’s work things out among ourselves first, and then we’ll work things out with the others.”
Finally, Ms. Dimitriou spoke of “excellent screenwriters who should write a movie,” addressing the rumors of the past ten days, while she did not shy away from commenting on the fact that, aside from the political agenda, the conflict between Anna Vissi and Nikos Karvelas is taking center stage, admitting that “the Annas are in the spotlight these days.”
“These are things that happen even in the best of families. The key is, as an older sibling, mom, or dad, to discuss these issues like adults and work things out. That’s what we did yesterday.”
