Internal disputes and leadership uncertainty within DISY party

On September 29, 2026, DISY party vice-president and MP Savia Orphanidou publicly addressed the ongoing internal strife within the Democratic Rally (DISY). Expressing significant emotional distress, she criticized the public confrontations and uncertainty currently characterizing the party, warning that these divisions could facilitate the return of AKEL to power. Orphanidou emphasized that the current situation is unacceptable and must come to an end immediately.

Orphanidou specifically called upon former DISY leader Averof Neophytou to clarify his intentions regarding a presidential candidacy. She stressed that any candidacy outside of established party procedures would be catastrophic, urging him to participate within the formal democratic framework of the party. She noted that DISY statutes have been updated to allow all members to vote on the nomination, and she invited potential candidates, including Annita Demetriou, Averof Neophytou, and George Pamboridis, to compete through these official internal channels. Orphanidou underscored that she has previously supported Neophytou and urged him to act in a manner befitting a former party president by following the internal selection process.