Disy members on Tuesday submitted candidacies for the party leadership positions set to go to the vote in May, as party leader Annita Demetriou heralded the increased interest for the posts.

“Collectively and united, we are moving forward to ensure the present and future of our party, with a strong Disy,” Demetriou said at the party headquarters buzzing with excitement as candidates declared their ambitions.

Up for grabs are three vice president posts and one deputy leader position. There were seven candidacies for the vice president and three for deputy leader.

Disy MP Efthymios Diplaros, former Disy MP Sotiris Sampson and Michalis Sofocleous, who is a member of Disy’s executive branch, submitted their interest for the deputy leadership post.

Diplaros said he would work collectively with a keen eye on taking up the responsibility of the hard work needed for Disy.

Meanwhile, Sofocleous told Disy members and reporters the party is destined to lead and not to be led, stressing that for the next five years, Disy needs to be a responsible opposition party.

Sampson said he was taking this step with God’s help and with complete dedication to the party’s founding principles and values.

Meanwhile, in the running for vice president are Disy MPs Savia Orphanidou, Fotini Tsiridou and Georgios Karoullas, as well as former government spokesman Marios Pelekanos, Xenia Constantinou (member of Disy’s executive branch), Onisiforous Iordanous (member of the party’s political bureau) and Michalis Michail (former chairman of CyBC).

Orphanidou called it a beautiful day for Disy highlighting “our unity is turning into action” while Michail called it an important day for the party.

Pelekanos said he could not have abstained from the effort to regroup forces, stressing he was ready to contribute positively and would instrumentalise his previous experience for this post.

Heralding hard work and passion, Tsiridou said she aimed to bring Disy “where it deserves, in the leading role” while Constantinou noted she would use her love for the party and its people to drive her to cooperate with the leadership for the betterment of Disy.

There were 66 candidacies submitted for Disy’s political bureau which has 25 available posts. Submissions were made between 9am and 1pm.

“Disy will continue to move forward and it cannot be threatened,” Demetriou noted. She added the party will continue in the same direction.

Elections are to be held on May 6.

To submit their candidacies, those running for deputy leader had to pay €300 while vice president runners had to pay €200. Political bureau candidacies came with a €100 submission fee. All candidates had to also show they had paid this year’s party membership, as well as their CV in digital format.