Cypriot political parties accelerate preparations for 2028 presidential elections

As the 2028 presidential election approaches, major Cypriot parties are intensifying their internal preparations. The Democratic Rally (DISY) has officially launched its process, setting October 26 for candidate nominations and November 28 for an extraordinary electoral assembly. Following a meeting between party leader Annita Demetriou, Averof Neofytou, and George Pamporidis, Demetriou withdrew her own candidacy to foster party unity. The leadership has since urged all members to avoid personal conflicts and focus on political discourse. Meanwhile, DISY MP Dimitris Demetriou has officially declined to run, expressing frustration over the lack of a clear policy narrative.

Simultaneously, the AKEL party is initiating its own procedures, aiming to select a candidate by March through an extraordinary national conference. Despite interest from diplomat Andreas Mavroyiannis, the party leadership remains open to various options, including non-party figures or potential alliances. Concurrently, the Democratic Party (DIKO) is evaluating its own strategy, considering three scenarios: supporting current President Nikos Christodoulides, backing party leader Nikolas Papadopoulos, or opting for a different candidate. Current developments indicate a shift toward early campaign positioning as parties seek to secure their electoral strategies well in advance.