DISY internal processes for presidential nominations

Democratic Rally (DISY) Deputy Chairman Efthymios Diplaros confirmed on September 30, 2026, that any party member can compete for the presidential nomination provided they secure 500 signatures, including 100 from the Supreme Council. Approximately 50,000 party members will participate in the selection process, with voting scheduled across all provinces to determine the candidate before the end of 2026.

These procedures follow recent internal tensions and criticism from former DISY Chairman Averof Neofytou, who accused the current leadership of acting as a "silent coalition partner" to the Christodoulides government. Diplaros addressed these remarks by calling for a cooling of public discourse and emphasizing that decisions, such as the deadlines for October 13 and November 14, were reached through established collective party processes. He denied accusations that he supports joining the current government, asserting his commitment to party decisions.

While Neofytou expressed frustration, stating he felt caught off guard, Diplaros maintained that all party procedures are proceeding normally without any intentional acceleration. The party aims to conclude the candidate selection process by late November or early December 2026 to ensure stability within the organization.