Averof Neofytou

President
Democratic Rally (DISY), Cyprus

Averof Neofytou was born in Argaka, in the District of Paphos, on 31/7/1961. 

After completing his secondary education at the Gymnasium of Polis Chrysochou, he studied Economics and Accountancy at N.Y.I.T. University, in Long Island, New York. 

He was District Secretary and afterwards Vice-President of the Democratic Rally Youth NEDISY. 

In 1991 was elected as Mayor of Polis Chrysochou, a post which he held until 1996 when he was elected DISY MP for Paphos. 

He served as a member of the Executive Secretariat of the Cyprus Union of Municipalities and President of the Coordinating Committee of the Municipality and Communities of the Chrysochou Area, Honorary Secretary of the Paphos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, President of the Board of "Evagoras" Sports Club of Paphos, member of the Board and Executive of the Cyprus Football Federation and President of the Anti-Cancer Society of the Chrysochou Area. 

He was appointed Minister of Communications and Works on 25 August 1999. He served the Ministry until 28 February 2003. 

On 25 May 2003 was elected Deputy President of the Democratic Rally. 

On May 2006, May 2011 and May 2016 he was re-elected as Member of the House of Representatives.

On May 2013 he was elected as President of the party, following the election of Mr. Nicos Anastasiades to the Presidency of the Republic. He was re-elected as President of the Party for a second term in May 2018. The Democratic Rally is the ruling party in Cyprus since 2013.

He served as Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs between 2011 until 2016. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Financial and Budgetary Affairs.

He is also the leader of the Cypriot delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and a member of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA).

He is married to Maria Selipa and has one son, Pericles.