DISY leadership urges Annita Demetriou to seek presidential candidacy for 2028

The leadership of the Democratic Rally (DISY) in Cyprus met on September 21, 2026, to discuss party strategy ahead of the 2028 presidential elections. During the session, party members strongly urged President Annita Demetriou to declare her candidacy for the party nomination. While Demetriou has not made a formal announcement, she expressed a positive outlook toward the bid, emphasizing that she intends to pursue a consensus-driven approach to ensure party unity. She clarified that her final decision will be revealed in mid-October.

The process for selecting a candidate remains subject to developments in the Cyprus problem. Party leadership has established a tentative roadmap, with most officials advocating for the final selection process to be completed by the end of 2026 or early 2027. The party plans to avoid major internal announcements while the UN General Assembly session is ongoing, as they monitor potential diplomatic progress regarding the reunification of Cyprus. Other potential candidates, such as Averof Neofytou and Giorgos Pamporidis, have also expressed interest, setting the stage for a competitive internal party race.

Separately, Andreas Mavroyiannis has expressed strong interest in running for the presidency as well, contingent upon the support of the AKEL party. Mavroyiannis stated that he is currently evaluating his position based on recent polling data and expects to finalize his intentions before the end of the current year.