Will Averof Neofytou go all the way? His moves, public statements and messages emerging from his personal contacts and political circle suggest the former Democratic Rally (DISY) leader is now following a specific strategy. The prospect of an independent presidential bid did not emerge only in recent days, but appears to have been on his mind for some time.
A series of events and statements point in that direction. Neofytou initially linked his decisions to developments on the Cyprus problem, even raising the possibility of supporting President Nikos Christodoulides if there were significant developments on the national issue.
His positions on both the Cyprus problem and the economy have also suggested an increasingly independent political course, with the 2028 presidential election clearly on the horizon. On several occasions, he spoke before DISY headquarters had set out its position, while at other times his stance differed from that of the party leadership.
The turning points
A key factor in Neofytou developing a Plan B appears to have been the signals he was receiving from the DISY leadership.
Appointments to the Government Work Monitoring Council were interpreted in some quarters as moves by Annita Demetriou to consolidate her position within the party. Her tours, meetings and the messages coming from DISY headquarters on Pindarou Street also suggested that the party leader was preparing for a possible presidential bid. Polling, popularity and electoral prospects subsequently entered the discussion.
A poll commissioned on behalf of Neofytou’s circle in recent weeks tested several specific scenarios. In light of developments over the past week, its findings have acquired added significance because one of the possibilities tested appears to have been an independent Neofytou candidacy, without him first taking part in DISY’s internal selection process.
Significantly, some of the scenarios tested Neofytou and Demetriou simultaneously as presidential candidates.
The survey, commissioned for Neofytou’s circle from a well-known Cyprus polling company and circulated on the mobile phones of party officials, recorded specific levels of support for the former DISY leader as well as his performance across several qualitative measures.
In the first scenario, which included Nikos Christodoulides, Andreas Mavroyiannis, Annita Demetriou, Averof Neofytou, Christos Christou, Odysseas Michaelides and other potential candidates, Mavroyiannis received 24%, Christodoulides 16%, and Demetriou and Neofytou 15% each. This scenario effectively tested both DISY figures running in the presidential election at the same time.
In the second scenario, which again included both Demetriou and Neofytou but changed the line-up of other potential candidates, Mavroyiannis received 22%, followed by Christodoulides on 17%, Neofytou on 16%, Demetriou on 14% and Christou on 6%.
A third scenario featured the four main potential candidates alongside Michaelides but without Christou. Mavroyiannis received 22%, Demetriou and Neofytou 18% each, Christodoulides 16% and Michaelides 6%, while 20% did not respond.
In the fourth scenario, featuring Mavroyiannis, Christodoulides and Demetriou as the main potential candidates but excluding Neofytou, Mavroyiannis received 25%, Demetriou 21% and Christodoulides 20%.
The fifth and final scenario featured Mavroyiannis, Christodoulides and Neofytou. Mavroyiannis received 23%, while Neofytou and Christodoulides each received 21%.
The survey also measured perceptions of potential candidates across a series of attributes. According to the results, Neofytou recorded the highest percentage when respondents were asked who they considered best able to manage national or economic crises, who they regarded as the most combative and who they believed had the greatest experience and understanding of the problems facing the Cypriot economy.
Whatever interpretation is placed on the individual findings, the politically significant point is that an independent Neofytou presidential bid was among the scenarios tested.
According to information obtained by Phileleftheros, the survey was conducted this month using a nationwide sample of 800 people.
Against that background, Neofytou’s statement that he will announce his candidacy if there are no developments on the Cyprus problem this weekend does not appear to be a decision that suddenly entered the public debate.
Why the announcement came sooner
What may have changed was the timing of Neofytou’s decision to reveal his intentions and strategy.
The outcome of the DISY leadership meeting at the party’s Pindarou headquarters last Monday appears to have played a part. The message from the meeting was one of rallying around Demetriou ahead of the presidential election, with party unity presented as a central priority.
That development appears to have accelerated Neofytou’s moves. He chose to show his hand earlier, before new political circumstances or faits accomplis could emerge inside DISY, according to the assessment of people close to him.
