Newsroom
DISY leader Annita Dimitriou has dropped her bid to become the party’s candidate in the 2028 presidential election, saying she wants to prevent another split within the party.
She announced her decision after meeting with former DISY leader Averof Neophytou and fellow contender Giorgos Pamborides. She insisted that nobody had pressured her and that no conditions had been attached to her withdrawal.
The decision leaves Neophytou and Pamborides as the two remaining contenders for the Democratic Rally’s nomination, although others could still enter. Formal candidacies are due to be submitted on Oct. 26.
Dimitriou said conversations with party supporters in recent days had made clear how worried they were about DISY becoming divided again.
“You understand that this would be disastrous for both the party and the country,” she said, adding that a split would also undermine its chances in the presidential election.
As party leader, she said, her first responsibility was to protect DISY’s unity. The party, she stressed, came before any individual.
Members will still choose
Dimitriou said DISY must put forward its own presidential candidate and that members would choose that person through the party’s announced procedures. Their decision would be respected.
Her withdrawal does not amount to an endorsement of either remaining contender. She also did not rule out further candidates joining the contest.
Asked repeatedly whether she had been pushed to step aside, Dimitriou maintained that the proposal was her own.
“It is purely my decision without pressure,” she said. “Our people want us to march united for the 2028 presidential elections, and that is what we will do.”
She defended her earlier decision to enter the race, saying there was nothing wrong with a party leader seeking the nomination. But developments had convinced her that stepping aside was now the right choice.
Responding to concerns raised by Neophytou about whether the selection process would be fair, she pledged to safeguard it and said colleagues had every right to stand.
The meeting initially brought together Dimitriou and Neophytou, with Alithia newspaper publisher Frixos Koulermou present. Pamborides was subsequently invited to join, and Dimitriou’s intention to withdraw was announced.
