**Title: Christodoulides Declares It's 'Too Early' for 2028 Presidential Election Campaigns**
**Nicosia, Cyprus** – President Nikos Christodoulides stated on Tuesday that it is premature to initiate discussions regarding the 2028 presidential election. His remarks came as he arrived at the Cyprus Forum in Nicosia, where he addressed inquiries about the evolving political landscape within the Democratic Rally (Disy) party.
Christodoulides emphasized that while individuals have the right to declare their candidacy, the timeline for the presidential election, scheduled for February 2028, is still quite distant. He noted that it is currently September 2026, indicating that there is ample time before the election cycle intensifies.
His comments were prompted by recent announcements from Disy party leaders, including Annita Demetriou, who declared her intention to seek the party's nomination for the presidency. Former Disy leader Averof Neophytou has also made his candidacy known.
"In other countries, in parliamentary democracies, this entire period is about half a government’s term," Christodoulides remarked, suggesting that the political climate in Cyprus should allow for more time before candidates officially enter the race. He reiterated that while he respects the right of any citizen or political party to start their election campaign, he believes the current focus should be on addressing the pressing issues facing the nation.
Christodoulides highlighted the need for collaboration between the executive branch and the legislature to tackle significant challenges affecting the citizens of Cyprus. "I believe that 17 or 18 months before [the election], it is far too early to begin this discussion," he stated, reinforcing his call for a focus on governance rather than electioneering at this stage.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the upcoming months may reveal more developments regarding potential candidates and their platforms as Cyprus approaches the 2028 presidential election.