Annita Demetriou withdraws from the 2028 presidential candidacy

On Thursday, October 8, 2026, the President of the Democratic Rally (DISY) party, Annita Demetriou, officially announced her withdrawal from the race for the party's candidacy in the 2028 presidential elections. The decision followed a 2.5-hour meeting held at the party's headquarters in Nicosia, which included former DISY leader Averof Neofytou and candidate Giorgos Pamporidis.

Demetriou stated that the decision was entirely her own, taken without pressure, to prevent a potential internal rift that she deemed catastrophic for the party and the country. She emphasized her role as a "guardian of unity," noting that she had sensed the anxiety among party members regarding internal divisions. In response to the announcement, Averof Neofytou issued a statement expressing support for the decision and calling for unity within the party, stating, "We move forward together.

While the announcement came as a surprise to many, reports indicate that internal discussions had been ongoing for some time. Although Demetriou did not signal her intentions during the party's executive office meeting earlier that Thursday morning, she subsequently facilitated a meeting with the other candidates to finalize her position.