Annita Demetriou, president of the Democratic Rally (DISY), is making strategic moves ahead of the 2028 presidential elections, testing her political strength and shaping the future landscape of the party. Among the changes set to be discussed at the party’s Constitutional Congress on Saturday, February 15, is the method of selecting the party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential race.
According to sources, the leadership is considering a proposal that would prioritise the current party president for candidacy in the presidential elections. The existing party statute states: “The party candidate for the presidency is selected by the Supreme Council following a proposal from the Political Bureau. The Supreme Council may refer its decision to an Extraordinary Pan-Cypriot Congress for ratification.” While many have the impression that the sitting party president automatically has a leading role in the selection process, the reality is more complex.
The statute also includes a clause stating: “If the president of the party, through the processes outlined in the statute, secures the party’s endorsement for the presidential candidacy and fails to be elected, they shall immediately convene an Extraordinary Pan-Cypriot Electoral Assembly to elect a new president.”
Should this proposed change be approved, it would mark a significant victory for Demetriou, as it would effectively secure her position as the party’s presidential candidate, potentially eliminating other challengers early in the process. However, the move also carries risks, particularly in terms of the reactions it may provoke from party figures like Averof Neofytou and his supporters, especially with the upcoming parliamentary elections looming ahead of the presidential contest.
The proposed change would give the sitting party president automatic priority for the presidential candidacy. If Demetriou chooses to pursue it, she could claim the nomination and sideline other potential contenders from the outset. This is seen as a proactive strategy to weaken rivals within the party, especially Neofytou and Faidon Faidonos, who are also believed to be considering runs for the presidential candidacy.
However, there are key challenges. First, Demetriou must demonstrate firm resolve in pushing the proposal through the Constitutional Congress and resist any pressure or backlash. As often discussed, her lack of decisiveness has been seen as a potential vulnerability. Second, she must secure the approval of party delegates to pass the provision and establish her dominance in the race for the 2028 presidential election.
The issue of prioritising the sitting party president as the candidate for the presidential elections emerged during the last meeting of the Executive Bureau on Thursday. Among the proposed changes under discussion is a suggestion for a provision ensuring that the candidate for the presidential elections be selected by the party’s base — the approximately 50,000 members of DISY — rather than the current system where the selection is made by the Supreme Council.
During the lengthy session, some speakers pointed out that if safeguards are not introduced to protect the party’s structure and the role of leadership in selecting the candidate, there is a risk of selecting candidates who may not be approved by the leadership. While selecting the candidate from all party members would be a more democratic process, it could weaken the leadership’s influence. Furthermore, it was noted that a primary contest among the potential candidates might lead to internal division and create wounds that could linger until the presidential election, ultimately costing the party at the ballot box.
This discussion appears to have raised concerns among Anita Demetriou and other leadership figures. Within DISY, there is a strong faction that supports Demetriou’s candidacy for the 2028 presidential elections, believing that her popularity could enable her to defeat incumbent President Nicos Christodoulides and any other potential challenger. Supporters argue that this is a unique opportunity that should be capitalised on.
Following the Executive Bureau meeting on Thursday, the party’s parliamentary group was updated, and the issue was raised once again. According to sources, the constitutional committee, together with DISY’s leadership, is currently working on three scenarios:
- The current party president, if interested, would be automatically nominated as the candidate for the presidential elections.
- The candidate would be selected by all party members, but with a requirement for any interested individual to gather a number of signatures from party members, along with at least 20% approval from the Supreme Council. The Supreme Council comprises around 1,000 members.
- A more remote possibility is that the candidate would be selected by all party members without any further requirements.
There is a prevailing belief within the party that safeguards should be implemented to ensure that the party leadership and collective organs have a meaningful say in selecting the presidential candidate.
