Disy president Annita Demetriou has left open the possibility of supporting President Nikos Christodoulides in the second round of the presidential election should the Disy candidate fail to qualify.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Demetriou said it was her priority, as well as that of other party figures, that “left-wing policies do not come to power”.

Disy deputy chairman Efthymios Diplaros and former parliamentary representative Nikos Tornaritis have previously expressed the same position.

She was responding to a proposal by former president Nicos Anastasiades for a preliminary agreement between Christodoulides and Disy.

Under it, whichever side is eliminated in the first round would commit to backing the other against the candidate supported by Akel.

Demetriou said she understood the concern of Anastasiades and party officials, which she described as “preventing the left from taking power”.

She however expressed confidence that the party’s candidate would convince voters and reach the second round, and urged members to “convince the public of our own proposals”.

Demetriou also referred to her decision to withdraw her candidacy for the Disy nomination.

She said party supporters now felt relieved, but cautioned that “unity is not ensured from one day to the next”.

On the arrangement between Averof Neophytou and Giorgos Pamborides, she said both men had committed to supporting whoever secures the party’s nomination.

Former Disy leader Averof Neophytou announced on Wednesday that he will ask party members for a vote of confidence to run for the presidency in 2028.

He made the announcement in a video filmed against the unfinished energy project at Vasiliko.

He said he wanted to offer a “new social contract” with the public and a change in the way the country is governed.

“I announce today my decision to ask my fellow members of Disy for their vote of confidence for the 2028 presidential elections,” he said.

Neophytou opened with the cost of living, commenting that people “work hard but struggle to meet their financial obligations”, with high prices and the cost of electricity and fuel weighing on households and businesses.

“Young people find it hard to pay rent, and owning a home has become an unattainable dream,” he said.

On the Cyprus problem, he warned that prolonged stalemate carries new risks.

“Cyprus cannot remain and will not remain divided,” he said.

He argued that a change of course is needed, with leadership that “takes decisions and delivers results”.

“I want to offer my knowledge and experience so that we can tackle these challenges. Without counting the political cost, but guided by the interest of society,” he said.

Neophytou referred to his years in Disy and the struggles he had shared with its officials and supporters.

He said the party had played a decisive role in the country’s course in difficult periods, and that he had experienced successes and disappointments alongside its members.

He described his decision as driven by “responsibility towards the party and, above all, towards Cyprus and its people”.

He said this would guide efforts to unite Disy and regain public trust.

He spoke of a strong economy, a modern state that serves the public and a free and secure homeland.

“Let us give hope and prospects back to our young people. This is my own responsibility,” he concluded.

Disy leader Annita Demetriou lambasted the government on Wednesday, saying its proposed budget did not rise to the challenges of the day and contained “inelastic spending, horizontal rises and untargeted measures”.

Speaking at a press conference, Demetriou said the government’s fourth budget “lacks a development and reform vision” and was more about managing problems than planning for the future.

Today, problems that must be addressed are inflation and the high cost of living, compared to unemployment, public debt and economic instability in the past, she said.

Inflation and the high cost of living, she pointed out, will persist, despite positive economic indicators.

A positive growth rate, Demetriou explained, could not address the cost of housing and starting a family.

Through its budget, the government supported high earners rather than those on low incomes, Demetriou said.

Demetriou presented her party’s priorities, including the need for more investments in the digitisation of the state and the digital economy to increase productivity, the downsizing of the civil service, improved services for individuals and businesses, and pushing the cost of bureaucracy downwards.

She said more investments were needed in research and innovation, development projects and infrastructure, to improve the quality of life and reduce the cost of living.

“Instead of expediting major projects and infrastructure, we are cancelling them or they are being carried out slowly. Accelerating development projects would lead to an increase in jobs and incomes, would strengthen the competitiveness of the economy in the medium term,” Demetriou said.

Other projects left behind are addressing traffic congestion and local authority development works, she added.

Demetriou also spoke of the need for “a real pension reform” that would improve pensions while securing the viability of the social insurance fund.

Disy, she said, also encouraged investments to reduce the cost of energy for individuals and businesses, particularly with photovoltaics and energy storage systems.

Other Disy priorities include withdrawing old vehicles, expanding intercity bus routes, encouraging remote work, further tax relief, the implementation of the all-day schools, improvements to the childcare plan, better child, student, single-parent and disability benefits, and measures to address the housing crisis.

Demetriou also called for measures to support the farming sector which is still reeling from increased production costs, rationed irrigation water and the foot and mouth outbreak.

“We are not asking for a continuous increase in spending […] We are asking for the better distribution of spending,” Demetriou said.

She explained that Disy did not disagree with the essence of the budget, but with the prioritisation of spending.