President Christodoulides declines to comment on Annita Demetriou's withdrawal

On October 13, 2026, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides addressed questions from the media while attending the Forbes Next Gen Banking & Fintech Summit in Limassol. The President was asked to comment on the recent decision by Annita Demetriou, President of the Democratic Rally (DISY) party, to withdraw her interest in the party's nomination for the upcoming presidential elections.

President Christodoulides firmly declined to offer any remarks on the matter, stating that it is the internal decision of a political leader. He emphasized that Ms. Demetriou has already publicly explained her reasons for the withdrawal, and therefore he has nothing further to add. This stance reflects a consistent strategy of non-involvement by the President regarding the internal political processes of the DISY party as they prepare for the future electoral cycle.

Media reports characterize the President’s refusal to engage as a calculated effort to maintain distance from party dynamics. While the DISY party is already operating in an election campaign atmosphere for the 2028 presidential race, President Christodoulides maintains that he is not currently focused on long-term political maneuvering, preferring to remain disengaged from the opposition party's strategic deliberations.