Demetriou, Neofytou split over autumn or new year for DISY nomination race

Politics annita demetrioudisyTop News Demetriou, Neofytou split over autumn or new year for DISY nomination race Averof Annita Disy 1536x864 Relevant News Demetriou, Neofytou split over autumn or new year for DISY nomination race 31 August 2026 Things to do on Monday, August 31 31 August 2026 The destruction of Smyrna, and the refuge Cyprus gave its survivors 31 August 2026 Andreas Bimbishis 31 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The first battle between Annita Demetriou and Averof Neofytou for DISY’s presidential nomination has already played out over the summer, not at party meetings, but on social media, as each seeks to win over the party’s base. Two long-standing camps have formed around when the party should hold its internal process to select a candidate for the 2028 presidential election, reflecting opposing positions held by Demetriou and Neofytou. According to information that has come to light, Demetriou appears to favour holding the whole process within the autumn. Neofytou, as he has said in his own interviews, believes the situation on the Cyprus problem needs to be clarified first, meaning the process should proceed only early next year. As autumn begins, DISY’s leadership at its Pindarou Street headquarters in Nicosia will need to clarify soon when the selection process will take place. With the party now back from its summer break, this is expected to be one of the first issues discussed, and the date ultimately set is expected to carry significance of its own. The battle for impressions This impression battle works both ways: through posts on their personal social media pages, Demetriou and Neofytou report on their activities, statements and positions, with the clear aim of persuading DISY members first, and wider society afterwards, of their views. At the same time, the exercise can work in reverse, a post setting out a position can also reveal how much support, or rejection, that position actually attracts. There is also a risk in trying to be present at every event, festival or church service, since not everyone in attendance is necessarily willing to offer their support. Praising Christodoulides at the vespers Demetriou, DISY’s president, has been particularly active on social media, making a point of publicising both official events and church vespers services she attends. These appearances, however, do not always unfold as intended, nor do the messages that ultimately emerge from them. One characteristic example came during a public appearance in the government-controlled area of Famagusta, where the priest who welcomed her to a vespers service thanked her, but she spoke at greater length to thank President Nikos Christodoulides for the assistance he provides to the area. The priest then told the congregation, specifically so that Demetriou would hear it, that President Christodoulides would also be attending the vespers service again next year. Sparking a wave of reactions Neofytou made a point of publicising much of what he said about the Cyprus problem in two recent interviews. His posts prompted a wave of comments, giving him good feedback on how wider society views his approach to the issue. At the same time, some interpretations began circulating in political and party circles suggesting that Neofytou’s moves signal his intention to run, and that a 2028 candidacy would be his way of positioning himself as the one who can solve the Cyprus problem. This, in turn, raises the question of whether he might do so even outside DISY. Where the party stayed silent DISY’s leadership chose in recent weeks not to respond to criticism from Neofytou over the party’s own share of responsibility for the failure to solve the Cyprus problem. The former DISY president’s criticism centred on the Ghali Ideas, the 1992-1993 period, and the 2017 Crans-Montana talks. The fact that the party did not respond, particularly to the criticism aimed directly at former president Glafkos Clerides over the Ghali Ideas, was widely discussed within DISY circles. In the end, what the party leadership did not attempt, two of its MPs did. Haris Georgiadis, in an article published in Phileleftheros the previous day, pointed out that Clerides had not lacked pragmatism and had wanted a solution fervently, but said Clerides “was never willing to accept proposals that did not safeguard Cypriot Hellenism.” Georgiadis opened his article by referring to a position expressed by the Left and others, implying that the criticism raised by Neofytou reflected AKEL’s position. Ioannis Kasoulides, in an interview with Kathimerini, asked rhetorically: “Did DISY bury the Ghali Ideas? Glafcos Clerides?”, pointing out that it was Denktas and Turkey who accepted the ideas at the time, while Clerides rejected them. The former Foreign Minister also disagreed with Neofytou’s characterisation of Crans-Montana, saying he does not believe responsibility for the collapse of those talks lies with the Cypriot side. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Things to do on Monday, August 31 The destruction of Smyrna, and the refuge Cyprus gave its survivors IBAN no longer needed for everyday transfers under new Cyprus payment plan Survivors describe “battle for survival” on sinking ship “Is my wife alive?” — anguish grows as Kyrenia search resumes Hospitals discharge shipwreck survivors as search for 18 missing continues 35 degree peak, mostly clear skies on Monday Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.