Presidential election preparations and candidate speculation for 2028 in Cyprus

With the 2028 presidential elections in Cyprus approximately 18 months away, political parties have begun preliminary planning. AKEL General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou addressed concerns regarding perceived delays, stating that the party is following its established roadmap and intends to engage in dialogue with other political forces to find common ground before discussing specific names. Stefanou denied rumors of contacts with economist Tassos Yiasemides, emphasizing that no official list of candidates has been formed, though he did not rule out his own candidacy.

Meanwhile, businessman John Christodoulou has publicly confirmed he is considering a potential presidential bid, following encouragement from multiple political parties, including overtures from MEP Fidias Panayiotou. Christodoulou, who emphasized his background as a non-politician concerned with socio-economic issues like the cost of living and the unresolved Cyprus problem, stated he will announce a final decision in early 2027. Another name reportedly suggested by Panayiotou, Mike Spanos, has explicitly denied interest in the race. Political parties remain in the initial consultation phase, with the process for selecting candidates expected to intensify in early 2027.