Neophytou urges Panayiotou to choose between popularity and public service
Former Disy leader Averof Neophytou told MEP Fidias Panayiotou to prioritise what he considers right for Cyprus over popularity.
Nicosia, Cyprus. Former Disy leader Averof Neophytou urged MEP and social media influencer Fidias Panayiotou to choose between being popular and being useful to Cyprus during a podcast discussion on Thursday.
The conversation also addressed the Cyprus issue and a reported internal Disy poll on the party’s prospects in the 2028 presidential election.
Podcast discussion
The discussion included moments of levity, with Neophytou and Panayiotou teasing each other.
At one point, Neophytou told the 26-year-old politician: “Sometimes you call me ‘grandfather’, you could be my son.”
Neophytou, 65, said Panayiotou had entered politics while making mistakes and had done things that provoked reactions.
He later urged Panayiotou to choose between popularity and “doing the right thing for your country”.
Cyprus issue
Neophytou criticised both President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman over the state of the Cyprus issue.
“We have no substantive negotiations. Each side blames the other,” he said.
He also said that when there appeared to be movement, certain quarters began warning about the dangers of a settlement.
Disy poll
The conversation also turned to an internal poll conducted by Disy, which reportedly showed that current party leader Annita Demetriou was the party’s strongest option for the 2028 presidential election.
Neophytou chaired Disy from 2013 to 2023.
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