**Title: Pamborides Denies Election Interference Claims Were Targeted at Averof**
Disy MP George Pamborides has publicly clarified that his recent allegations regarding internal party interference in his parliamentary election campaign were not aimed at former party leader Averof Neophytou. This clarification follows a wave of speculation on social media suggesting that Neophytou was the individual implicated in Pamborides' claims of party officials attempting to dissuade voters from supporting him during the May elections.
In a social media post, Neophytou stated, “I want to be fair. Pamborides did not leave any insinuations about me. He spoke about a certain party official, that official is not me. Anyone who bothers to comment should stop making unsubstantiated insinuations.” Pamborides later shared Neophytou’s statement, reinforcing that his complaints did not pertain to the former Disy president.
During an interview on the ANT1 podcast, Pamborides alleged that certain party officials had contacted Disy voters, urging them not to support his candidacy. “Party officials were calling voters and telling them not to vote for me,” he asserted, describing such actions as unacceptable for a democratic party. He mentioned that several Disy members reached out to him after being approached by these officials, with some expressing a willingness to provide written testimony regarding the alleged incidents.
Pamborides secured the second highest number of preference votes among Disy candidates in the Nicosia district during the elections, amassing 12,040 preference votes. The Disy party emerged as the leading party in Nicosia, garnering 27.1 percent of the vote and securing five parliamentary seats, which marked an increase in support compared to the 2021 elections.
In response to Pamborides’ initial comments, party president Annita Demetriou affirmed that the party has competent bodies to investigate such matters and that internal issues are being addressed with the “utmost severity.” During a politburo meeting held last Thursday, Pamborides reiterated his allegations and expressed his readiness to present evidence to the party's collective body. However, Demetriou indicated that Pamborides was not afforded the opportunity to present the material he claimed to possess during the meeting.
Disy’s legal counsel, Christos Triantafyllides, noted that if Pamborides' allegations are substantiated, they would constitute a violation of the party’s statutes. He stated his intention to advise the party leadership to request that Pamborides document his claims and provide the names of those involved.
Pamborides has also announced his intention to seek the party’s nomination for the 2028 presidential election, positioning himself among other potential candidates, including Neophytou and Demetriou. This development adds another layer of complexity to the internal dynamics within the Disy party as it navigates the fallout from the recent election and the allegations made by Pamborides.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the party will address the allegations and whether any actions will be taken against those accused of interference in the election process.