Internal turmoil in DISY over 2028 presidential candidacy

The Democratic Rally (DISY) party in Cyprus is experiencing a severe leadership crisis as the 2028 presidential elections approach. Tensions escalated in late September 2026 when former party leader Averof Neofytou signaled his intention to run for the presidency, prompting current party president Annita Demetriou to announce her own candidacy immediately afterward. This move has triggered a public confrontation within the party ranks, with senior figures like deputy leader Efthymios Diplaros and vice-president Savia Orphanidou expressing concern that the internal divide will weaken the party and facilitate a victory for the opposition party, AKEL.

The conflict highlights the lingering instability within the right-wing party since the 2023 elections, where Nikos Christodoulides secured the presidency. Honorary president Nicos Anastasiades has called for unity, although commentators note the irony given his prominent role during the party's previous electoral failures. Currently, the party faces a dilemma: it must either facilitate an internal process to select a candidate or risk a factional split if Neofytou decides to run as an independent candidate. As of late September 2026, there are seventeen months remaining until the election, with party officials continuing to exchange accusations amid deep-seated disagreements on leadership and party direction.