George Pamboridis criticizes Averof Neofytou and the Christodoulides government

On October 19, 2026, DISY MP and presidential hopeful George Pamboridis publicly criticized former party president Averof Neofytou. Pamboridis claimed he was present at a meeting where Neofytou committed to respecting the results of internal party procedures, linking this commitment to Annita Demetriou's withdrawal from the race. He warned that any deviation from these principles would be unacceptable.

Furthermore, Pamboridis strongly criticized the Christodoulides government regarding its domestic and foreign policies, specifically rejecting Neofytou's proposal to lift sanctions against Russia. He emphasized that Cyprus must prioritize its European alliances. Regarding his own electoral strategy, Pamboridis stated he is open to forming alliances based on shared values, democratic principles, and adherence to UN resolutions on the Cyprus issue. He distanced himself from political "horse-trading," declaring he would rather lose the presidency than abandon his core principles.

Pamboridis indicated that if he fails to reach the second round of elections, the party leadership should base its endorsements on principles rather than personal bitterness. He continues to advocate for a political culture defined by integrity rather than the transactional approaches he claims have alienated citizens from politics.