Averof Neophytou announces 2028 presidential bid triggering DISY leadership contest

Former DISY leader Averof Neophytou officially announced his candidacy for the 2028 presidential elections on September 27, 2026, citing frustration with the current government’s handling of the Cyprus problem and persistent social inequalities. During a press conference in Nicosia on September 29, Neophytou refused to explicitly confirm whether he will seek the party's formal nomination through internal procedures, stating that he is not running "just to be a candidate" and signaling that he may proceed independently if necessary. He emphasized that he seeks to avoid repeating the political challenges he faced during the 2023 elections.

In response to this announcement, current DISY President Annita Demetriou declared her own intention to seek the party's nomination during an Executive Bureau meeting held on September 29. Demetriou, who chose to excuse herself from the meeting to allow for impartial discussion, framed her candidacy as a duty to maintain party unity. While Neophytou remains ambiguous about his involvement in the formal party selection, prominent party figures like Yiannis Karousos have expressed confidence that he will ultimately participate in the internal procedures. The party is moving toward a process where its base will play a decisive role in choosing the candidate, with potential nomination filings scheduled for October 13 and 14.