The former president of DISY is ready to put forward the solution plan for 2028. The question is how he will do it
In the midst of the summer lull, a series of statements by Averof Neophytou on his favorite Platform X and a series of interviews he gave have raised questions in political circles. First, regarding the intentions of the former DISY President, but also regarding who exactly was the intended audience for the messages he was sending. In a podcast with Fidias Panayiotou, he pointedly recalled the saying of Socrates—and a favorite of Glafkos Clerides’s— “The Fatherland is more honorable than one’s mother, father, and all other ancestors,” while speaking with Neoklis Neokleous on “Alpha on Sunday,” he continued in the same vein, expressing the view that, for the good of the country and the Cypriot people, “no party is above the country.” This, of course, followed his earlier statements regarding the critical nature of the current situation in the Cyprus issue, in which he would stand alongside President Christodoulides if the latter has the will to move forward; and subsequently,his acknowledgments to X regarding tragic mistakes made by both AKEL and DISY concerning the Cyprus issue. Including among DISY’s mistakes both the burial of the Gali ideas and the Crans-Montana talks. A series of statements that, to some, conveyed the message that Averof Neophytou, having stepped back from the front lines, spoke—albeit belatedly—with candor and recognized the dangers posed by an unresolved Cyprus issue. Meanwhile, in party circles, he has reignited the discussion that, with the Cyprus issue and the critical—as he puts it—developments at the forefront, he is ready to set his sights on the 2028 presidential race. The question, however, is whether this candidacy will stem from internal DISY party dynamics or whether, with the main narrative being “for the good of the country and the Cypriot cause”—he is prepared to run even outside the party.
Building a New Brand
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Averof Neophytou has never hidden his aspiration to run again for the Presidency of the Republic. He made this clear from the day he announced his resignation as DISY president; he subsequently established his own political office, maintained close contact with the party base, and has been in constant consultation with party officials, evidently with his sights set on 2028. His main platform is the resolution of the Cyprus problem. He argues that these are particularly critical times that call for a leader with the will to find a solution. Moreover, he has built a close relationship with diplomatic circles and the United Nations, and is often better informed about developments than his own party leadership. Freed from the burdens of being a party leader, he has for some time now been speaking candidly about the mistakes made regarding the Cyprus issue, engaging in self-criticism, distinguishes his position from Anastasiades’ policies, and has thus begun to build his own following outside of DISY. He aims to win over new supporters in this battle. First, he is driving a wedge into the political center, drawing in a portion of the Democratic Party, as well as Volt, given that he emphasizes the need for a solution to the Cyprus problem, and hoping for the support of a progressive segment of AKEL’s base as well as former voters of Andreas Mavroyiannis. He also appears to be counting on the support of Fidias Panayiotou, with whom he has a surprisingly close relationship. Whether this scenario is feasible remains, of course, to be seen. Three distinct trends are already emerging. One considers the former President’s effort to be sincere, noting that he has always been consistent in his stance on the Cyprus issue, but is now ready to make up for the silence of the preceding years. The other views his newfound awareness with suspicion, arguing that when he should have spoken out about all these issues, he hesitated, instead supporting Nicos Anastasiades. And a third camp, which does not question his commitment to a solution, regardless of whether this narrative fits into his agenda for 2028.
Whatever the case may be, what is certain is that the former DISY president ignored—or rather downplayed—Anita Dimitriou’s ambitions throughout this entire process. She, emboldened by her victory in the parliamentary elections—a victory aided by her two potential rivals, Averof Neophytou and Giorgos Pamporidis——is not only considering a run for the presidency but is also enjoying high approval ratings.
Behind the Words
Anita Dimitriou’s decision to commission polls on who might win the presidential election and the leak of the poll in question was viewed as a hostile move against Averof Neophytou. Not only because of the timing of the poll’s conduct and the ensuing discussion, but also because of the leak—given that it occurred during the days when Nicosia was waiting towelcoming and bidding farewell to António Guterres without any results, but also because he was not asked about it. Most importantly, however, the leak of the poll gave the impression that she was attempting to create a favorable climate for her candidacy both within the party and outside it. Her goal was to then claim a victory and either undermine Neophytou’s candidacy or force him to abandon any aspirations he might have had to win the nomination.
For Averof Neophytou’s inner circle, this was seen as yet another sign of ingratitude toward him. Because, as is well known, it was the former DISY President who helped her become Speaker of the House in 2021, backed her for party president in 2023, and was the reason she was re-elected Speaker of the House last June. After all, she publicly admitted that he brought Fidias Panagiotou to her office and they arranged the alliance for her election. There appeared to be an informal agreement between the former and current President of DISY. That the former would re-elect her as Speaker of the House on the condition that she, in turn, would clear the way for him to be the DISY candidate in the presidential election. A rumored agreement that either never existed or that Anita Dimitriou decided to renege on later, when she saw that she had a chance of being elected to the highest office.
The Intentions
In this context, Averof Neophytou’s statements that the Cyprus issue takes precedence over party politics, as well as his acknowledgments—which had been voiced in the past—regarding DISY’s mistakes, sparked the following debate. Has the internal party battle between Averof Neophytou and Annita Dimitriou for the DISY nomination officially begun, or is the former president perhaps willing to run as a candidate even outside the party?
Concerned party officials believe that Averof Neophytou’s latest statements were a warning shot aimed at Annita Dimitriou. That if she is determined to play the popularity and poll numbers card to undermine his candidacy, then he will play the hardline card of political stances. The narrative that “at a time when the future of Cyprus was being decided, Clerides’s party was conducting polls for the presidential election” will be one of the cards he uses to attack the leadership. He will also highlight the lack of clear positions on major issues. This will be the first time they find themselves on opposing sides, and that is where each person’s power within the party will become apparent.
It cannot be ruled out, however, that all of this is part of a test of the waters to determine whether his candidacy can garner broader support for the solution.
What may ultimately determine the outcome is whether he himself will be DISY’s chosen candidate. The question is whether, following his statements that the Cyprus issue transcends party lines, he intends to act independently and preempt potential developments. If he realizes that attempts are being made to undermine his candidacy from within. Such a move, however, is not only unlikely given his past political career, which was rooted in partisan patriotism, but it also carries a great risk. Not only in terms of whether his candidacy can be considered successful, or whether it will trigger a new internal conflict within the already battered party. Mainly because he will completely contradict himself, with some ready to denounce him as a traitor—a label he readily applied to Nikos Christodoulides on numerous occasions in 2023.
