It should be considered certain that Nicos Anastasiades will close the plan B scenario hovering over Pindarou in relation to Averof Neophytou's candidacy and clear the air. It is also expected that as a member of DISY and for many years president of the party, he will do the obvious, i.e. he will support without asterisks the candidacy of the party president in the battle for his succession. It remains unknown whether President Anastasiades will personally refer to the former Foreign Minister, Nikos Christodoulides, but it should be taken for granted that he will address admonitions and a call to all party members to respect the internal party procedures and to start intensive work with the aim of maximum rallying. The President is expected to use the platform of the Supreme Council to send messages in relation to frontline issues such as the war in Ukraine, the Cyprus problem, the economy, reforms and others.
DISY attaches particular importance to President Anastasiades' clearing the air because some of his statements have been sustaining the speculation about the possible withdrawal of Averof Neophytou's candidacy due to low poll performance.
The speech of the party's President, Averof Neophytou, who, as the party's candidate for the presidential elections, will give his personal stamp, will unfold his vision for the future and will present the policy pillars for the five-year period 2023-2028 on which the governance programme will be largely based.
The session, which will be held in the closed Liberty Stadium, will start at 10.30 and will be attended by some 2,000 delegates.
Rallying operation
Two videos will be shown during the Supreme Council session. One will focus on the course of DISY from 1976 to the present and will highlight the milestones of the party, its leaders, its successes, as well as the infill through which it has passed over time, especially in the early years of the post-war period. The second film will focus on the man and politician Averof Neophytou, with snapshots of his life and his participation in public life, his passage through a number of state offices (mayor, MP, minister), as well as his path within the party as leader. The aim of the DISY leadership is for the session of the Supreme Council to be the springboard for the official start of the ruling party's election campaign, with the aim, of course, of opening up to the party world, repatriating members and cadres who have distanced themselves from the party, and reaching out to friends and voters of the party, who for various reasons have turned away or become disillusioned.
The two fronts
Apart from everything else, the aim is to improve the image of Averof Neophytou in order to create the necessary momentum for his candidacy and to dispel the shadows as to its outcome. In DISY they estimate that with methodical work and increased effort the poll indicators will improve and that at the crucial time the bet for the passage of Averof Neophytou in the second round will be won. Pindar's communication strategy will focus on Averof Neophytou's ability to compose and where necessary to build bridges of understanding to achieve goals at crucial moments. It will also highlight the need for continued economic stability, effective management of major problems, such as the economic crisis and pandemic, relations with the EU and, of course, commitment to efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem.
Two important issues that remain pending will determine Pindarou's political and communication strategy for the continuation of the election campaign: One is the decisions in the opposition camp, and in particular whether there will be cooperation between AKEL-DIKO and with which candidate. The second issue is the path that Nikos Christodoulides will follow. On this issue, the estimates of the DISY leadership are that the former Foreign Minister will be a candidate in the presidential elections, but it remains unknown whether he will be supported by political forces.
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