Internal contest for DISY presidential nomination heats up

The Democratic Rally (DISY) party in Cyprus is finalizing its internal procedures for the 2028 presidential nomination, with two candidates, Averof Neofytou and Giorgos Pamboridis, set to officially file their candidacies on October 26, 2026. Both candidates have successfully gathered the required 500 signatures, despite Pamboridis' earlier criticism regarding the procedural changes that mandated this threshold. The internal vote is scheduled for November 28, 2026.

A central theme of the current discourse involves the potential for a pre-election agreement with current President Nikos Christodoulidis for the second round of the elections. Former President Nikos Anastasiades proposed a cooperation deal; however, Pamboridis explicitly stated that any reconciliation would require a formal apology from Christodoulidis to the DISY base for his actions during the 2023 elections. Meanwhile, party leader Annita Demetriou emphasized the necessity of maintaining party unity and preventing the political left from regaining power.

Neofytou has officially launched his campaign, focusing on the cost of living, the Cyprus issue, and a new social contract. Pamboridis has expressed his commitment to democratic principles, maintaining that he would not seek an independent path if unsuccessful, and criticized the governing style of the current administration.