Newsroom
Averof Neofytou had plenty to say on Friday about what people are paying at the pump. On what he intends to do about the presidential election, the answer remained less clear.
The former DISY leader declined to spell out his plans at an afternoon press conference, repeating instead a promise to the party’s supporters.
“I will not hurt the tens of thousands of my fellow party activists. I gave a promise, an oath of honour,” he said.
While he is widely expected to follow DISY’s internal process for choosing its presidential candidate, his remarks stopped short of confirming his next move.
Asked about pressure on party president Annita Dimitriou to withdraw her candidacy, Neofytou said questions concerning DISY would be answered next week.
He also said no meeting had been arranged with former President Nicos Anastasiades, while making clear that he had not refused to meet anyone.
“How many more increases can people absorb?”
Repeatedly steered toward the party’s internal affairs, Neofytou sought to bring the discussion back to household finances, focusing on fuel and electricity costs.
He pointed to diesel prices that he said had passed €2 a litre and asked how much more low-paid workers, pensioners and middle-income households could take.
“How many more increases can they absorb?” he asked.
Neofytou backed the government’s request for greater flexibility from the European Commission to support households and businesses. But he argued that short-term assistance would not resolve the underlying problem.
“We cannot limit ourselves to managing the consequences of rising prices. We must also address their causes, starting with energy costs,” he said.
For families balancing commuting costs, electricity bills and everyday shopping, his argument was that temporary help must be accompanied by measures that bring costs down over the longer term.
A call to rethink sanctions on Russia
Neofytou urged President Nikos Christodoulides to raise the review and lifting of EU energy sanctions against Russia at the next EU summit.
Citing what he described as a U.S. easing of restrictions on Russian diesel supplies, he argued that Europe should reconsider its approach.
“The pursuit of a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine does not negate the obligation to protect European citizens,” he said.
He also called for a national plan to permanently reduce fuel and electricity costs, including faster development of energy storage and better use of renewable power.
Putting the tax share under scrutiny
Neofytou challenged the share of energy spending that goes toward taxes, saying these accounted for €34–€37 of every €100 spent at the petrol station and €31 of every €100 paid for electricity. He said electricity customers also faced network and fixed charges.
“We cannot continue to shoot ourselves in the foot. Europe must demonstrate political realism and Cyprus must take the initiative,” he said.
On household bills, his message was direct: Relief alone is not enough. On his own political plans, DISY supporters will have to wait for the clearer answers he has promised next week.
