Democratic Rally (DISY) leader Annita Demetriou on Wednesday left open the possibility of backing President Nikos Christodoulides in the second round of the 2028 presidential election if the party’s own candidate fails to reach it.
Speaking at a news conference, Demetriou also addressed a proposal by former President Nicos Anastasiades for a pre-election agreement between Christodoulides and DISY. Under the proposal, whichever side failed to reach the second round would back the other against the candidate supported by AKEL.
Demetriou said she understood the concern of Anastasiades and of party officials. She said they shared a concern that left-wing policies should not come to power, and that DISY’s unity should be preserved.
She stressed, however, that DISY must be the force that unites the centre-right. “We are not running in the elections to lose,” she said, adding that she believed the party’s candidate would convince voters and reach the second round. She said it was legitimate for the parties to hold various talks among themselves.
Other senior DISY figures, including deputy leader Efthymios Diplaros and former parliamentary spokesman Nikos Tornaritis, have taken the same position on a second-round endorsement in the past.
Nomination race
Demetriou also referred to her decision to withdraw from the race for DISY’s nomination, saying the party’s supporters now felt relieved. Unity cannot be secured overnight, she said.
She said Averof Neofytou and Giorgos Pamborides had committed to supporting whoever secures the party’s nomination, and that her decision had been aimed at securing this.
