Pamborides to seek Disy nomination for 2028 presidential election

Nicosia, Cyprus. Disy MP George Pamborides said he will seek the party’s nomination for the 2028 presidential election, while raising concerns about the alleged infiltration of organised crime into politics.

Organised crime concerns

Speaking on Alpha TV, Pamborides claimed that members of organised crime groups have access to politicians.

“I am particularly concerned about the penetration of organized crime into all aspects of life, especially politics,” he said.

Public sector priorities

Pamborides also outlined his parliamentary priorities, criticising what he described as a lack of effort to improve public sector productivity.

“There’s no effort to increase productivity. A carnival has been set up around sick leave,” he said.

He said the government had not shown boldness in confronting public sector trade unions.

“We can’t have a situation where we can’t meet our needs because half our nurses are on sick leave,” he said.

Candidate selection process

On the presidential race, Pamborides criticised a constitutional change within Disy that gives party members, rather than senior officials, the choice of candidate.

“I disagreed strongly with the constitutional change that hands the choice of candidate to the party membership. Senior party figures shouldn’t be pitted against each other before a major national election,” he said.

He said the party leader should have had the first say, with any rival candidacy considered by the party’s collective bodies before being put to the wider membership.