Democratic Rally (DISY) President Annita Demetriou has announced she will stand for the party's nomination for the Presidency in 2028, placing herself before the party's members. She made the announcement after a meeting of the party's Executive Office, which examined the situation created by former DISY leader Averof Neophytou's announcement of his own candidacy.
Executive Office meeting
According to information obtained by Politis, members of the Executive Office strongly urged the party president during the meeting to seek DISY's nomination for the presidential elections. It was ultimately decided that she would announce her candidacy the same day.
A twofold message
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Ms Demetriou said: "The message I want to convey is twofold. The priority is to safeguard the unity and cohesion of the party, and the democratic procedures provided for in the charter will be followed."
"At the same time," she said, "I feel it is the least I owe, as president of the party, to put myself before the members of DISY, and I will be a candidate for the nomination for the next presidential elections."
"DISY will have a candidate for the good of its members and for the good of the country," she added.
Asked about the procedure within the party, Ms Demetriou replied that "everything else, we will discuss in the coming days".
Next steps in the internal procedure
According to Politis information, the Executive Office will meet again on Tuesday to set a date for convening the Political Bureau, the body responsible for deciding the procedure to be followed within the party.
The same information indicates that the Executive Office will prepare a recommendation to the Political Bureau on the dates for the submission of candidacies and the holding of the internal party elections.
Earlier remarks on the party charter
Following Mr Neophytou's announcement, and ahead of the Executive Office meeting, Ms Demetriou had said: "It is his right to take whatever position he wishes. It is our right, and our obligation, to follow the charter and the procedures." She added that, as president of the party and "guardian of the charter", that is what she would do.
Reactions within the party
Former President of the Republic and former DISY leader Nicos Anastasiades had earlier criticised the manner in which Mr Neophytou announced his candidacy, warning of a "risk of a split in the party" and stating that "the unity of the party comes before personal ambitions".
This is a developing story.
