The next day following the result of the first round of the presidential elections will be discussed at a meeting of the party’s political office on Monday, said DISY President Averof Neophytou, adding that any decision of the party will be taken collectively.
Neophytou, who was left out of the second round of the presidential elections, had a meeting with outgoing President Nicos Anastasiades at the Presidential Palace, earlier on Sunday afternoon, and then made statements at his electoral staff office, accompanied by his wife, close associates and members of the Cabinet, saying that the result is “absolutely respected”. He also said he congratulated Nikos Christodoulides and Andreas Mavroyiannis, who passed in next Sunday’s run-off election.
“We fought a tough race in the most politically adverse conditions. We achieved a result very close to the party’s percentage in the parliamentary elections and we also got more votes than in the last parliamentary elections. But it was not enough,” Neophytou noted, thanking those who trusted him and “stood by our historic party and their ideas and walked with us throughout this wonderful journey, despite the split attempt.”
Stressing that the decision for the next day is a collective one, Neophytou added that DISY is a democratic party with strong institutional procedures and that its organs will evaluate the results and its further stance.
“One thing is certain”, he stressed, “DISY will remain united and strong, a leading player in Parliament and society and I will remain personally committed to this high mission. I owe it to the struggles and to what you have done, not only in recent months, but also to what [former President] Glafkos Clerides bequeathed to us with our principles, values and beliefs.”
Asked if his statement that DISY will remain in opposition if the citizens decide so is still valid, Neophytou said that “the decision for the next day, I said it during the pre-election and I declare it tonight, will be decided institutionally, do not confuse me with others.”
Asked about his discussion with the President of the Republic in their meeting earlier at the Presidential Palace, Neophytou said that as in every election, it is the norm for the party to talk with the President of the Republic who is honorary president of DISY. “We discussed what I have just stated,” he said.
“I repeat, any decision is a decision of the political office, there are no other bodies to decide. We talk, we discuss, but we have a statute that we respect,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether he put himself before the party members, Neophytou said he had stated this several times and would repeat it: “We have a statute that provides for procedures. When they are set in motion, Neophytou will be a candidate for the Presidency of DISY,” he stressed.
Finally, asked if the possibility of supporting the candidacy of Nikos Christodoulides will be on the table, Neophytou reiterated that he is working institutionally.
“I do not want to rush any decision of a collective body,” he said, adding that “I have an opinion and even if I were not a party chairman, as an active citizen I have an opinion. I will express it before the collective bodies and I will respect any decision they make, I repeat, don’t confuse me with others.”
Source: Cyprus News Agency