The Democratic Rally (DISY) is facing more internal turmoil in view of its internal ballot for the upcoming June EU and municipal elections.
In a letter to the party’s leadership, Marios Tselepos who intends to stand for president of the Paphos District Council expressed his disappointment over the involvement in the internal ballot, of former MP Costakis Constantinou, who he accuses of betraying the party during the presidential elections and siding with President Christodoulides.
In his letter, Tselepos writes “Apart from my personal interest in the position of president of Paphos’ District Council, interest has also been shown by our party’s former MP, Costakis Constantinou, who not only turned his back on us in the most significant and decisive elections of our party, not only did he not have the decency to apologise to the Democratic Rally world upon which he has built his political, economic, and social existence, but he is still present at all the outings of President Christodoulides in Paphos and seeks to be photographed with Mr and Ms Christodoulides,” he says.
For these reasons, as he states, he refuses to participate in the electoral process. “Betrayal should not be rewarded or legitimised,” he notes.
In the presidential elections of February 2023, Christodoulides broke with the party line and stood against DISY leader Averof Neofytou, eventually winning the presidency.
The party’s leadership position is that reopening the discussion about what happened during the presidential elections will only harm the party.
DISY faces a decisive moment this Saturday with ballots being set up in various regions where the number of candidates exceeds available positions.
Notably, in Western Limassol, Nikos Spyrou and Aristos Aristeidou will vie for the mayoral candidacy; in Limassol, Michalis Fellas and Savvas Stouppas are contesting for the deputy mayor position; Aleka Stylianou and Marios Neophytou are competing for deputy mayor of Ypsonas and Akis Zanettos and Giorgos Lakkotrypis for deputy mayor of Larnaca.
Elections will also be held for the selection of municipal councillors in Troulloi, Pervolia, Ypsonas, Episkopi of Limassol, Engomi, and Aglandjia.
