AKEL general secretary outlines criteria for 2028 presidential candidacy

On September 9, 2026, during an event marking the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of Cyprus (AKEL), General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou addressed the party's stance on the upcoming 2028 presidential elections. Speaking in Nicosia, Stefanou initiated the public discussion by defining the specific profiles the party will reject, rather than confirming a candidate.

Stefanou emphasized that AKEL will not support any candidate who fails to prioritize a solution to the Cyprus problem based on the agreed framework. Furthermore, the party intends to reject any candidate who upholds the current governance model, which it criticizes for favoring the prosperity of numbers over citizens' needs, or any individual perceived to serve the interests of the elite while maintaining links to corruption and the scandals associated with the administrations of Nicos Anastasiades and Nicos Christodoulides. The party aims to create a majority social movement focused on achieving what it describes as progressive change.

The event served as both a reflection on the party's history since its founding in 1926 and a platform for outlining future electoral goals. While no specific candidate was announced, Stefanou confirmed that the party is actively working to form alliances that align with its progressive platform, framing the upcoming election as a crucial task for the political organization.