Annita Demetriou reportedly withdraws from Disy presidential race

Annita Demetriou, leader of the Democratic Rally (Disy), has reportedly withdrawn from the contest for the party’s 2028 presidential nomination. Her departure follows a meeting in Nicosia with fellow contenders Averof Neophytou and Giorgos Pamborides aimed at seeking consensus and maintaining party unity.

Prior to her withdrawal, reports suggested Demetriou was willing to step aside if Neophytou participated in the internal process rather than running independently, with the condition that he commit to backing the eventual winner. Neophytou has maintained that he will not be “dragged behind anyone,” and his camp has been collecting signatures for a formal candidacy.

Giorgos Pamborides has proposed an informal consultation between the three interested parties to select a candidate before the October 26 deadline. Pamborides has also expressed an intention to appeal to a broader voter base, including those from the Center and the Left, as well as attempting to reclaim voters who defected to the far-right.

Candidacies must be submitted by October 26, with an extraordinary national electoral assembly scheduled for November 28.