DISY faces internal divide over presidential candidate selection timeline

The Democratic Rally (DISY) party in Cyprus is currently navigating a period of internal tension as it prepares to select its candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. On September 29, the party's Executive Bureau proposed a timeline that sets the submission of candidacies for October 13, with an electoral assembly scheduled for November 14 to allow approximately 50,000 members to vote. Deputy President Efthymios Diplaros stated that these procedures aim to resolve the leadership selection by the end of 2026.

Former party leader Averof Neophytou, who recently announced his intention to run without excluding internal competition, has expressed concerns regarding the speed of these procedures. Other figures, including Giorgos Pamborides, have also criticized the timeline as too restrictive, with some members calling for a postponement to allow for an ideological conference. The Political Bureau is set to meet today, October 2, to either ratify the proposed schedule or implement changes, amid reports that Neophytou may not attend. The situation remains critical, as the party leadership seeks to maintain unity while addressing potential rifts within its base.