Giorgos Pamboridis challenges Averof Neofytou for DISY leadership

Former Minister of Health Giorgos Pamboridis has officially entered the race for the leadership of the Democratic Rally (DISY) party, positioning himself as a candidate for "radical center-right" politics. In a recent interview, Pamboridis stated his intention to win the contest against the current leadership, represented by Averof Neofytou, rather than merely measuring political support. He argued that retaining the status quo would lead the party to repeat the unfavorable electoral results of 2023.

His campaign is built on three core pillars: reuniting the party's factions, avoiding another exclusion from a presidential second round, and ensuring future electoral viability. Pamboridis criticized the current direction of the European center-right, suggesting that policies must shift to ensure the free market benefits society as a whole rather than a privileged few. He proposed an outreach strategy aimed at voters from DIKO, DIPA, and even the Left, moving beyond the binary dilemmas of the previous election cycle.

Looking ahead, the internal party election is scheduled for November 28. Pamboridis emphasized that while he maintains ideological differences with Neofytou, he did not rule out supporting the party official should Neofytou emerge victorious in the upcoming ballot.