DISY leadership faces internal rivalry regarding 2028 presidential nominations

Following a leadership meeting on September 21, 2026, the Democratic Rally (DISY) party has entered a sensitive period regarding its strategy for the 2028 presidential elections. Party president Annita Demetriou expressed her intention to seek the nomination, aiming to unite the party, while emphasizing that a final decision depends on developments regarding the Cyprus problem, particularly following UN General Assembly discussions.

Concurrently, former DISY leader Averof Neofytou has publicly stated his intent to run for president should the upcoming talks in New York, involving President Nikos Christodoulides and UN Secretary General António Guterres, yield no progress on the Cyprus issue. While party officials like Onoufrios Koullas insist that any candidacy must proceed through established internal party processes, the ambiguity surrounding Neofytou’s intentions has created uncertainty. The party leadership intends to solidify its decision-making timeline by the end of 2026, with potential internal elections scheduled for late November or early December 2026 if consensus cannot be reached. Meanwhile, other potential candidates, including Andreas Mavroyiannis, continue to evaluate their own political paths as the landscape remains fluid.