Internal party crisis in Democratic Rally following Averof Neofytou’s candidacy announcement

The Democratic Rally (DISY) is entering a period of significant internal instability following the announcement by former party president Averof Neofytou that he will run as a candidate in the 2028 presidential elections. Neofytou’s statement notably omitted any mention of the party, leading to speculation that he may pursue an independent path rather than seeking the official DISY nomination.

In response, DISY Deputy President Efthymios Diplaros publicly challenged Neofytou to clarify whether he intends to follow established democratic internal procedures or run as an independent, warning that an autonomous candidacy would place him in direct opposition to the party. The leadership is scheduled to meet today to address the crisis, with possibilities including an accelerated process for determining the official party candidate. Meanwhile, the status of Annita Demetriou remains uncertain, as she has not yet clarified her own intentions regarding a potential candidacy.

This development comes amidst concerns that a split within the Right could lead to three competing candidates from the same political space in the first round of the 2028 elections. The party leadership is currently attempting to maintain neutrality, fearing that further escalation could result in severe electoral damage.