Odysseas Michaelides leaves open the possibility of running for President of the Republic in 2028, either as an independent candidate or as part of a coalition of parties, making it clear that “Alma’s” priority is to find a joint candidate who can articulate the desired political change.
Speaking on the “Alpha News” program, the leader of “Alma” stated that discussions are underway with political forces, with the aim of laying the groundwork for broader cooperation ahead of the 2028 presidential election. As he emphasized, the candidate’s name has not been brought up in discussions, nor has the possibility of his own candidacy been discussed with his interlocutors.
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When asked whether his statements—which suggest that “one stinks and the other scratches”—are just “a game,” he replied that “we can’t put Odysseas Michaelides at the top of our list as our first choice and then try to bring the others on board.” He also emphasized that the search for a candidate should not begin with a predetermined decision regarding who will run for the presidency.
The Discussions and the “Puzzle” of Alliances
Odysseas Michaelides revealed that “Alma” has already met with AKEL Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou, the leader of Direct Democracy, Fidias Panagiotou, as well as with the Ecologists and EDEK.
As he noted, the discussions with AKEL and Direct Democracy took place in a positive atmosphere, and the conditions for potential cooperation are taking shape, provided the right person is found. Regarding EDEK, he noted that the meeting took place in a positive atmosphere; however, there was still no clear picture of the party’s intentions, particularly in light of its internal developments. Similarly, during the meeting with the Greens, it had not yet become clear who they would endorse for the presidential election. As for Volt, the leader of “Alma” noted that they had sought a meeting, but it has not yet taken place, as the party requested time following its own electoral processes. On the other hand, he clarified that there have been no contacts with DIKO, as it is part of the governing coalition.
The candidate’s profile and his own candidacy
The key objective, according to Odysseas Michaelides, is to find a figure who can garner the support of the cooperating forces and advance the goal of change. He acknowledged that compromises may be necessary in the effort to find a joint candidate, but clarified that these should not divert the coalition from its core objectives.
As he noted, “Alma” does not want a choice limited to partisan balances, but rather a person who can express the need for institutional reform and the restoration of citizens’ trust in politics. When asked whether he himself could be the candidate that the political forces would support, he replied that no such discussion had taken place with Stefanos Stefanou or any of his other interlocutors.
He reiterated, however, that his own candidacy remains one of the available options, either as an independent or as part of a smaller coalition that would be willing to support him. This, however, is not the starting point of the effort, as “Alma” insists that the possibilities of finding a common candidate must first be explored.
“We’re in no rush”
The head of “Alma” emphasized that the process is still in its early stages and that there is no reason to rush. As he noted, it would be pessimistic to assume that a suitable candidate cannot be found among the country’s hundreds of thousands of voters.
Regarding the political framework that the joint candidate should serve, Odysseas Michaelides emphasized institutional reform, addressing inequalities, and improving citizens’ daily lives. In fact, he made specific reference to the need to formulate social policy within the framework of an open economy, noting that economic growth is not enough when it is accompanied by a worsening of social inequalities.
According to him, the goal is to form a broader coalition capable of pushing for political change in 2028, without the choice of a candidate overshadowing the policy platform that will be presented. For now, discussions are focused on the first round of the presidential election, with Odysseas Michaelides making it clear that the possibility of a second round has not yet been considered by “Alma.”
Criticism of the National Council’s Failure to Convene
In the same vein, the leader of “Alma” criticized the President of the Republic for failing to convene the National Council, in light of developments in the Cyprus issue and the upcoming meeting with the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, María Ángela Olguín.
As he noted, he considers it possible that confidence-building measures will be announced, including the potential opening of roadblocks, though he assessed that there appears to be no change in Turkey’s position regarding the substance of the Cyprus issue.
At the same time, he described as unprecedented the fact that, while important processes are underway, the National Council has not been convened, wondering whether the President considers the body to be merely ceremonial.
