Averof Neophytou announces bid for Cyprus presidency in 2028

New York, United States. Former Disy leader Averof Neophytou announced on Sunday that he will stand in Cyprus’s 2028 presidential election, citing the continued deadlock in the Cyprus problem after high-level contacts in New York. He said the latest meetings had failed to advance the resumption of negotiations.

Talks remain stalled

“The window of hope for the Cyprus problem unfortunately remained closed,” Neophytou said in his candidacy statement, adding that “not the slightest thing was agreed” in New York.

He said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who had linked his legacy to efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, would leave office in three months with the deadlock unresolved.

Neophytou accused the government of failing to heed his repeated warnings that time was working against the Greek Cypriot side. He also criticised the country’s leadership for pursuing what he described as the same well-worn approach.

Presidential bid

Neophytou said he shared the concerns of a large section of society over the lack of progress and called for renewed efforts to reunify Cyprus and end the status quo.

“I am present and I submit my candidacy for the 2028 presidential election,” he said. He said his campaign would focus on the country’s major problems, prospects for young people, a fairer society and, above all, reunification.

In recent days, Neophytou had linked a possible candidacy to developments at the UN General Assembly in New York, saying he would enter the race if there was no meaningful movement on the Cyprus problem.

His announcement comes amid an internal debate in Disy over how its 2028 presidential candidate should be selected. Party officials have said the procedures set out in its constitution must be followed.