In the aftermath of the presidential elections, a volatile atmosphere prevailed in the Democratic Rally (Disy), as the former governing party appeared to split due to internal disagreements sparked by whether to back Nikos Christodoulides for President.
Disputes within Disy became evident as Natasa Pilides resigned before taking up her role as the party’s executive director. Additionally, former Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides, in an interview a few months ago, argued that there was an opportunity for a new political platform, while at times accusing Disy of sliding towards populism.
A number of the party’s former members distanced themselves from Disy due to the situation, and debates about whether to back or even participate in Christodoulides’ administration resurfaced on numerous occasions.
President Christodoulides’ invitation for the Democratic Rally to join the government seems to have mobilised the new party leadership, Phileleftheros writes. Demetriou and her close associates held a shared belief that broaching such discussions at this juncture, regardless of individual stances on Christodoulides’ government, would be detrimental to the party.
Furthermore, even those within the party who were open to cooperating with Christodoulides’ government expressed their discontent with the President’s timing and approach.
Since, the newly appointed leadership of Disy has set two primary objectives:
- Reestablishing internal party cohesion.
- Forging electoral alliances with other parties to prevent a repetition of the isolation experienced during the recent presidential elections.
The goal concerning electoral partnerships is reportedly progressing well, as sources say that strides have been made towards cooperation with Diko and other parties.
Moreover, efforts to restore internal harmony are ongoing on both organisational and political fronts. The new party president’s team is being assembled, while efforts are also underway to rekindle connections with party members who had distanced themselves.
During a Disy political bureau meeting in September, attention was focused on the presence of Nicos Anastasiades and Averof Neofytou for the first time since the presidential elections. At this gathering, Annita Demetriou announced the establishment of the presidential council, and the appointment of Harris Georgiades as the president of the “Glafkos Clerides” Institute, and introduced her collaborators within the party. Despite existing disagreements, the meeting proceeded in a calm atmosphere, setting a positive tone for the party’s future, Phileleftheros writes.
In the subsequent period, there were further developments. Constantinos Petrides made a comeback, this time voicing a statement on behalf of Disy regarding the country’s economy, in light of Moody’s rating agency’s double upgrade of the Cypriot economy. He also attended the meeting of the presidential council.
Furthermore, former Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela made a statement on Monday on behalf of Disy, announcing an agreement reached in January 2023 to expand cooperation between the U.S. Shriners Hospitals for Children and the George and Thelma Paraskevaides Foundation.
The critical challenge facing Disy’s leadership now is to ensure that the recent relative calmness remains intact through decisions regarding electoral candidates and that a positive atmosphere is maintained leading up to the European Parliament elections.
