**Disy Feud Erupts as Officials Accuse Each Other of Party Disloyalty**
A significant rift has emerged within the Democratic Rally (Disy) party, as deputy chairman Efthimios Diplaros and vice-chairman Yiannis Karousos have exchanged serious accusations of disloyalty. The conflict ignited during an online leadership meeting when Karousos alleged that Diplaros had attended a gathering that was supportive of President Nikos Christodoulides.
According to reports from the news outlet Reporter, the contentious gathering took place last Saturday at a property in Platres, owned by a businessman related to Diplaros. President Christodoulides was present at the event, which also included various business and political figures. Notably, Diplaros was absent from the online meeting when Karousos raised the issue. Upon learning of the accusations, Diplaros took to the communication group to demand clarification from Karousos, asserting that no one had the right to prevent him from attending any gathering.
In his response, Diplaros emphasized that attendees at the Platres gathering included supporters of not only Christodoulides but also Disy party leader Annita Demetriou and former party chief Averof Neophytou, as well as members from the opposition party Akel. He directly questioned Karousos about his allegiance, asking whether he supported Demetriou or Neophytou, and named three other attendees, challenging Karousos to label them as “sold out” as well.
The exchange escalated when Diplaros labeled Karousos a “traitor” and a “sellout,” prompting a temporary intervention from other members of the communication group to calm the situation. Diplaros later accused Karousos of reiterating his allegations at a local party meeting in Athienou on Tuesday night and even threatened to file a police report for defamation. In his defense, Karousos denied referring to Diplaros during the Athienou meeting, claiming that other attendees could attest to his statements.
The dispute comes on the heels of a cabinet appointment made on Wednesday, wherein former Disy MP Nikos Tornaritis was designated as Christodoulides’ special political envoy for the Cyprus problem in Asia and Africa. Tornaritis, who previously held a prominent position within Disy and served for 13 years as the head of the Cypriot delegation to the Asian parliamentary assembly, will undertake this new role without a salary. Karousos expressed his disappointment regarding Tornaritis’ acceptance of the appointment, suggesting that it demonstrates Tornaritis’ open support for the president.
In light of the ongoing tensions, Karousos urged other Disy members who may share Tornaritis’ sentiments to publicly declare their support for Christodoulides and consider leaving the party. He referenced a provision in the party's statutes that mandates the automatic removal of members who accept ministerial or deputy ministerial positions while Disy is in opposition.
Meanwhile, Averof Neophytou, the former party leader, stated that he had met with President Christodoulides in New York on Wednesday to discuss the Cyprus problem. Neophytou reiterated his commitment to support the president should a strategic agreement be reached regarding the issue.
In response to the internal conflict, Annita Demetriou has announced plans to convene a meeting of the party leadership to address the escalating dispute between Diplaros and Karousos. The outcome of this meeting could have significant implications for the future unity and direction of the Disy party, as members grapple with the challenges of loyalty and support within their ranks.
As the situation develops, the party's leadership will need to navigate these internal divisions carefully to maintain cohesion and focus on their political objectives.