Averof Neofytou and Giorgos Pamboridis contest DISY presidential nomination

The race for the DISY presidential nomination for the 2028 election officially commenced on October 26, 2026, with former party leader Averof Neofytou and Giorgos Pamboridis confirmed as the two candidates. The party’s electoral committee approved both candidacies, and members are scheduled to cast their votes on November 28 in the party's first open-vote process of its kind. Both candidates have pledged to unite behind the eventual winner to prevent a repeat of the internal divisions that plagued the party during the 2023 presidential elections.

On October 29, 2026, Pamboridis held a press conference to outline his political platform, which focuses on eleven pillars including the Cyprus issue, cost of living, education, and economic reform. During the event, Pamboridis critiqued suggestions made by Neofytou regarding the lifting of European sanctions on Russia, labeling them as illogical and inconsistent with party values. Meanwhile, DISY president Annita Demetriou has consistently called for unity and cautioned against extremism, urging all members to respect the democratic outcome of the upcoming internal election. Both candidates have been seen together at official public events, signaling an attempt to maintain a facade of calm as the campaign progresses.