Georgiades Refuses to Back Neophytou in 2028 Race and Offers to Quit Clerides Institute

Nicosia, Cyprus. Former finance minister Harris Georgiades has announced that he will not take part in a campaign for former Disy leader Averof Neophytou in the 2028 presidential election, should Neophytou secure the party’s nomination. He has also offered to resign as chairman of the Glafcos Clerides Institute.

Letter to the party leader

Georgiades set out his position in a letter to current Disy leader Annita Demetriou, which was made public on Tuesday. He wrote that this would be the first time he had stayed out of a campaign for the party’s candidate.

Related: Disy leader Demetriou rejects Georgiades’ resignation from Glafcos Clerides Institute

RelatedDisy leader Demetriou rejects Georgiades’ resignation from Glafcos Clerides Institute

He said that, as a matter of principle, he could not accept what he called a fait accompli. In his view, it was shaped “under conditions of pressure and overt political blackmail”.

Independent candidacy

According to Georgiades, the pressure he referred to concerned the possibility of an independent candidacy, which Neophytou left open until the final moment. He argued that a party announcement issued on October 12 supported this reading. The announcement said Demetriou’s decision to withdraw guaranteed that everyone could take part in democratic processes.

Criticism of the party’s process

Georgiades wrote that a measured political process, meant to define strategy and assess the party’s options, had been replaced by tactical calculations, backroom manoeuvring and excessive ambition. He described this as “out of keeping with the values and political tradition of Disy”.

Policy differences

He added that Neophytou now takes positions on many issues that diverge substantially from established party policy. This was a reference to Neophytou’s recent remarks urging an easing of energy sanctions on Russia.

The letter said the matter had been raised repeatedly in recent years and had weakened efforts to turn Disy into a serious and coherent party of the modern centre right.

Electability not at issue

Georgiades stressed that his objections had nothing to do with electability. He recalled that he gave Neophytou his full support in the previous presidential election, when the then party leader’s prospects were judged unfavourable.