Internal party strife in Disy following Harris Georgiades' resignation attempt
On October 27, 2026, former finance minister Harris Georgiades announced he would not campaign for Averof Neophytou in the 2028 presidential election should Neophytou secure the Disy party nomination. In a letter to party leader Annita Demetriou, Georgiades cited "reasons of principle," claiming that a potential independent candidacy by Neophytou had been maintained until the last moment, which he described as a result of "pressure and overt political blackmail." Georgiades offered his resignation as chairman of the Glafcos Clerides Institute, Disy's affiliated think tank, stating that the party had abandoned sober strategy in favor of tactical maneuvering.
Party leadership and officials, including Yiannis Karousos and Dimitris Demetriou, criticized Georgiades' public declaration, arguing it fuels internal division. Party leader Annita Demetriou rejected Georgiades' resignation, stating that issues should be resolved through dialogue. Meanwhile, the crisis deepened as Dr. Andrea Theologou Manoli, an advisor on rule-of-law issues, resigned from her position, explicitly criticizing Georgiades for questioning Demetriou's narrative regarding her own withdrawal from the race.
The party, which is currently undergoing a selection process for its presidential candidate, remains in a state of high tension as it prepares for internal elections scheduled in approximately one month.