OEB president Giorgos Pantelidis rules out 2028 presidential bid

Giorgos Pantelidis, president of the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB), has officially dismissed speculation regarding his potential candidacy in the 2028 presidential elections. In a recent interview with Marios Adamou for InBusinessNews, Pantelidis clarified that he has no interest in political involvement at this time, emphasizing his commitment to his current role and the business sector. He further suggested that some media reports linking him to the election were intentionally orchestrated.

His name had been frequently mentioned in political discourse as a possible candidate for the AKEL party, which is expected to begin its internal selection process for the 2028 presidential race this coming autumn. Analysts had speculated that AKEL might again look for a candidate from outside the party structure to attract a broader base of voters. Despite this, Pantelidis has firmly closed the door on such prospects, stating that his current priority remains the economic progress and development of the country.

Beyond his political stance, Pantelidis is currently heavily engaged in discussions regarding pension reforms, a critical issue under negotiation between the government and social partners. The OEB has explicitly expressed its support for these reforms as part of its ongoing contributions to national policy.