By Constantinos Psillides
THE four DIKO ministers serving in the coalition were yesterday said to be furious that the party’s executive ruled they should not resign until March 4, a week after the central committee is expected to ratify – or not – Friday’s vote to quit the government.
Reports suggested that the ministers were given until March 4 to resign only in order to be able to collect the bonus they are entitled to when they complete one year in office. That falls on March 1. The reports sparked public outrage, with people calling on President Nicos Anastasiades to reshuffle his cabinet immediately.
The Sunday Mail has learned however, that at least one DIKO cabinet member, Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis, would leave office immediately if the central committee, this coming Wednesday, rubberstamps the executive body’s vote.
Lakkotrypis, who is seen as an extremely competent and popular minister, tweeted that “having experienced last night’s [Friday’s] events, my options are now clear”.
The other ministers were silent yesterday on the bonus issue, neither denying nor confirming they would follow the energy minster’s example and resign immediately.
But it was reported that during Friday’s eight-hour marathon they had accused the executive, and DIKO leader Nicolas Papadopoulos, of making them a target of public ridicule by suggesting the date in question.
Health Minister, Petros Petrides was yesterday quoted as saying that executive’s March-4 ruling had served only to portray the ministers as money-hungry.
Petrides, talking on Astra Radio, spoke of “this public humiliation”, and accused Papadopoulos of trying to pass a motion during Friday’s meeting that would forbid the four ministers from voting on whether DIKO should remain in the coalition. DIKO spokeswoman Christiana Erotokritou had refused to comment on the accusations, the radio station reported.
Defence Minister Fotis Fotiou yesterday limited himself to a Facebook posting saying it was time to show responsibility towards the country. “These critical times call for political stability and national unity,” he posted.
There was no comment yesterday from the fourth DIKO minister, Education’s Kyriacos Kenevezos.
It is believed all four do not want to leave the cabinet and on Friday had voted in favour of staying in the coalition.
Only last week, the four DIKO ministers met on an unrelated subject but in their public statements called for unity among political parties, a sideswipe at Papadopoulos.
In fact it appears that Papadopoulos – the main advocate for dissolving the coalition had a hard time convincing all the members of the executive on the merits of his proposal to withdraw, which are based on Anastasiades’ handling of the Cyprus problem.
Friday’s decision was split with 22 members of the executive in favour of withdrawing to 15 against and two abstentions – MP Fytos Constantinou and Morphou district committee chair Andreas Meraklis.
Papadopoulos has been in a tit-for-tat correspondence of legalese with Anastasiades for weeks over the content of the joint declaration that cleared the way for Cyprus negotiations to begin on February 11.
He insists Anastasiades has broken his pre-election pledge to DIKO – without whose support he would not have been elected – and that the declaration was nothing more than a resurrection of the hated 2004 Annan plan.
Long-time Papadopoulos rival and former DIKO leader himself, Marios Garoyian, told Sigma TV that he believes that the party shouldn’t leave the coalition but should instead stay “monitor the situation up close so the party can maintain its regulatory role”. However Garoyian made clear that, as a life-long party man, he would respect the central committee’s decision, whatever it might be. Garoyian was narrowly defeated by Papadopoulos on December 1, last year – 51 per cent to 49 per cent – and still holds sway among the party base.
DIKO’s deputy head Marcos Kyprianou also seems to be of the opinion that the party shouldn’t act hastily in withdrawing. Reports say that in his speech before the executive, Kyprianou called for a meeting with Anastasiades to discuss his intentions on the Cyprus problem.
Also, it is clear that since the second phase of the DIKO elections, Papadopoulos’ control over the central committee is far from tight. An overthrow of his proposal on Wednesday would be a major defeat for the new party president and call his leadership into serious doubt.
And while DIKO struggles to deal with internal strife, the palace has made it clear it would not interfere.
Government spokesman Christos Stylianides said in written statement yesterday that Anastasiades was determined to maintain stability in the country and would wait for DIKO to complete their internal procedures before making any decisions.
“The government respects all political party internal procedures and as a matter of principle does not interfere,” said Stylianides, adding that the president was determined to go through with his plan for the economy and to keep trying to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.
However, a DIKO withdrawal would in fact leave Anastasiades free to forge ahead with settlement talks without having to pander to his junior partners who are widely seen as favouring the status quo over a federal settlement.
Stylianides said Anastasiades had not broken promises made to DIKO on the Cyprus issue, and would continue to honour the agreement he made prior to his election.
He said the joint declaration was not the final solution but merely a starting point for negotiations.
Ruling DISY leader, Averof Neophytou said yesterday that any decision made by DIKO would be respected. He said DISY would not forget DIKO’s support “in the effort to bring stability to the Cypriot economy”.
Neophytou also said his party wanted to hold on to the bridges with DIKO for the good of the country.
“Times are tough for our country and political instability will not help us to stabilise the economy,” he said.
DIKO said in its statement on Friday night the party would maintain a “responsible stance” in parliament when it came to legislation relating to the island’s bailout programme.
56 Comments
TinkerbellTat
February 25, 2014 at 14:09All eyes on DIKO’s next move | Cyprus Mail http://t.co/wingB0apKX via @cyprusmail
Attila
February 24, 2014 at 16:52Prostitution would seem to be a more honourable profession than being a Diko MP / Minister
Andreas Louca
February 24, 2014 at 11:53you have not got a true democracy when the Constitution is not approved by the citizens and any amendments are not approved by the citizens . There is no democracy when the The Constitution gives immunity to the President and there is no means to remove him or prosecute for wrong doings. Democracy is of the people by the people. only when the politicians are afraid to stand up and be counted , do they take refuge and put to the people a referendum on the solution to the Cyprus Problem.
For 40 years since the Invasion that have stuck with the dysfunctional constitution , which still acknowledges that a Turkish Cypriot must be a vise President , and deputy Governor , but has never seek to put a Turkish Cypriot from the Free area into position .
John Sheeran
February 24, 2014 at 09:13Quick question, who does the House of Representative really represent ? Obviously not the people of the Republic.
Brettblade
February 23, 2014 at 23:50I was always under the impression that these people wanted to be in government to influence decisions and provide service to their country. That means persuading others with convincing reasons to follow one policy or another. These peole seem quite happy to throw in the towel at the first indication that they are not getting their own way. If they are lawyers I thank god i never have to have one of them fighting my corner if they give up that easily. It would appear words like determination and courage belong with a previous generation.
Cris Dan
February 24, 2014 at 09:52In dictionary language such people are categorized as ‘traitors’. The definition suits perfectly to them.
Silvergunner
February 23, 2014 at 17:21Quote..”He said the joint declaration was not the final solution but merely a starting point for negotiations. Unquote. I thought he raised so much havoc in speeches and stand that he wanted the declaration to ensure a lasting and fair solution! Now it is not the basis of a solution? Is that why we have the statement that agreement should be on every single point, however small, in order to treat the negotiations as achieving a solution? I always said, Anastasiades’ “Yes” vote to the Annan Plan was only to achieve “political credibility” and did not carry not sincerity!!! Back to the drawing board? May be those who advocate partition are becoming more convincing!
johnleonidas
February 23, 2014 at 14:24DIKO is ‘widely seen as favouring the status quo over a federal settlement’.
Either you are a poorly informed or extremely biased journalist. No one can objectively say that those who oppose the Joint Declaration or even a bizonal bicommunal federation prefer the ‘status quo’. You can say DIKO prefers a unitary state or a federation with a strong central government – in fact DIKO’s position is in favour of a bizonal bicommunal federation made up ‘of the right content’; but to suggest DIKO prefers the status quo of the Turkish occupation over federation is arrant nonsense and calls your professionalism into question.
James Shawcross
February 23, 2014 at 15:09Good point. Even if one disagrees with the policies and statements of DIKO under the current leadership, it is infantile for the Cyprus Mail to suggest that DIKO ‘prefers’ the status quo. Even to those who are not supporters of DIKO, it is clear that this is a silly argument and very poor journalism.
johnleonidas
February 23, 2014 at 15:29Yes, it’s quite possible to argue that DIKO’s opposition to the Joint Declaration is unwittingly leading Cyprus to partition or cementing the status quo, but to suggest that DIKO actively and openly professes partition or the status quo over a federal solution is misleading and malicious. If C. Psillides wants to make this argument against DIKO, then he should do so in a comment piece rather than trying to present a highly contestable opinion as a statement of fact.
Gothamboy
February 24, 2014 at 02:30It might seem infantile…
Veritas
February 23, 2014 at 15:53Kindly explain what *the right content’ and ‘ the solution we really want* is. Finally, how will you achieve this. It’s about time DIKO supporters really put the cards on the table and let us know what their magic formula is. We’re all ears!
johnleonidas
February 23, 2014 at 16:11You’ll have to ask DIKO what it means when it says it supports a bizonal bicommunal federation ‘with the right content’. But a journalist writing about Cyprus should not mislead people by saying that DIKO prefers the status quo over federation. This is simply not true.
In the 8 July 2006 agreement between Tassos Papadopoulos and Talat, it is explicitly stated that the two sides are working to unify ‘Cyprus based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions’.
Thus, DIKO is not opposed to a federation. It is opposed to the Joint Declaration because it believes it tends to a confederation of two independent states rather than a federation.
Silvergunner
February 23, 2014 at 17:30If you don;t know what “the right content” is why do you use it? You should ask DIKO for an explanation before you begin their propaganda! It is well known that some of the GC politicians don’t understand how a “federation” works – you seem to say the same misguided view! In federations the central government deals mainly with 4 issues only: Money, International Representation, Citizenship and Defence! The rest belongs to the states and it is up to them if they want the Federal Government to have more or less! You are still thinking in terms of a majority or minority relationship; not federal!!!
observer
February 23, 2014 at 17:46I know of no federation that has no national parties, and which consists only of two states pitted against each other equally.
Silvergunner
February 24, 2014 at 22:56There are no other federations that are based upon bi-communal, bi-zonal federation that has achieved overall convergence of political parties! Give it a few years of trust and confidence building after unification and let us see if that will not be achieved! I can tell you now that the Unionists on both sides are vying to ensure their “advantage” continue!!!
observer
February 25, 2014 at 08:16So, who sorts out any ensuing “mess” based on zero precedents?
Silvergunner
February 25, 2014 at 20:45Us! Haven’t you heard of the expression: there is always a first time! We can set a precedence – unless you are unhappy with a solution!
Veritas
February 23, 2014 at 19:25Good point. DIKO and the No sayers in Cyprus are hiding behind ‘ a strong federal Government* when they in reallity mean a majority-minority solution. However, they never have the courage to say it officially.
Veritas
February 23, 2014 at 18:01The problem is that DIKO never expalin in detail what they want. It’s one thing to oppose any initiative for various reason, it’s simple. The difficult thing though, is to give an in depth alternative, so that people understand, what final solution they want.
Unfortunately the so called NO- camp in Cyprus never do.
Why, for example, don’t they explain how their version of the Joint Declaration should look like?
johnleonidas
February 23, 2014 at 18:34You may or may not be right about DIKO’s policy of a bizonal bicommunal federation ‘with the right content’ being nebulous, etc; but the point is that it is DIKO’s policy. DIKO’s policy is not, as Psillides says, ‘favouring the status quo over a federal settlement’. As to what DIKO means by ‘with the right content’: undoubtedly, this entails, among other things, a strong federal government with unambiguous provisions on the three ‘singles’ – sovereignty, citizenship, international personality. Of course, DIKO is open to criticism for this policy, but CM journalists have a professional responsibility to correctly state DIKO’s policy, not to make it up.
Haji Mike
February 24, 2014 at 00:14CM’s journalists have a responsibility to inform the public as independent journalists as well…can’t a journalist express an opinion? Should Psillides also send any article to DiKO’s exec committee for clearance first? And who is DiKO’s leadership any way? Papadopoulos, the party’s ministers, the deputy President, or Marios Karoyian? If any one is trying to fool people its Nikolas Papadopoulos because his dead end legalese jargon simply plays into the hands of partitionists whose intention is and always has been to divide Cyprus..DiKO’s leadership live off negativity, its their political reason to exist and of course fat pay cheques…just look at how their ministers have been carefully timed to resign in order to get all their over inflated benefits…there are up to 70,000 unemployed and rising and you seriously think people are bothered with what DiKO’s exec committee decided on the joint declaration? .
andreas christodoulou
February 23, 2014 at 14:15To the DIKO ministers,do the honourable thing and resign NOW with immediate effect then the country is finally rid of another stumbling block for this last chance for a peaceful settlement,remember 40 years of sanctions,boycots and
blackmail have brought us nothing and will now have to settle for a worse plan than the Anan plan thanks to these people,also remember that the greeks abandoned their people in Smyrna to the Turks and sailed away so they will do the same to us in Cyprus now that they have already taken our money
$77965177
February 23, 2014 at 13:41To DIKO ministers:
1 – Resign today
2 – Take a public position in favour of the talks
3 – Clarify that you have resigned in order to prove that you are not doing it for the “chair”
4 – You will become heroes
5 – Your political future will be assured while you are doing your country a real service
Simple, but are you patriotic enough to do it?
Costas Apacket
February 23, 2014 at 19:51Money or integrity?
What do we think?
$77965177
February 23, 2014 at 21:07Shortsightedness. If they had sense they would take the advice and they would become national heroes. But unfortunately mediocrities WILL be mediocrities..
Road Warrior
February 23, 2014 at 13:24Go now DIKO you are without honour, greedy selfish and a hindrance to the betterment of the republic.
Costas Apacket
February 23, 2014 at 13:15‘DIKO in Disarray’ – the next election slogan?
Ana
February 24, 2014 at 14:34🙂
Brian Whiffen
February 23, 2014 at 11:47Dissension in the ranks, looks like Papadopoulos jnr. is playing the famous Cypriot political game of shooting off ones own foot, as distasteful as it may be to his family on a personal level, working within the coalition is the best way to attain some of your goals rather than throwing his dummy out the pram, he is showing a distinct lack of knowledge on the current situation and the feelings of the majority of the electorate, I hope that the ministers currently within his party see common sense and get off the DIKO bus before it takes itself over a cliff,the four of them may not be the best ministers but they are at least attempting within the framework to do the best they can for the country,
ParlGov
February 23, 2014 at 10:39#Cypurs All eyes on DIKO’s next move | Cyprus Mail http://t.co/BJP1RzJe6G via @cyprusmail
Cris Dan
February 23, 2014 at 10:55DIKO management seems to be comprised of a bunch of selfish and self centred politicians. One the one hand they are trying to encash the Cyprus -Turkey negotiation matter ,and on the other hand they are creating a strange situation for on board ministers by fixing their date of resignation by March 4. Hence trying to kill many birds with one non working gun.
DIKO management is over confident about their malign and non patriotic actions. But this recent extreme action does prove that they are not standing by their home land when their land needs them.
Cypriots should also make them redundant . Cypriots should treat them as traitors who are trying to damage the remaining grace of the state in this very difficult time.
Unfortunately I am aware -it may not happen.People-simple people still think that traitors are the friends of the land.This is what damaging us .We choose our enemies as our friends. Sad.
Frustrated
February 23, 2014 at 10:23This situation yet again highlights the nonsensical and, what many would term, undemocratic way in which Cyprus is governed.
DIKO command no more than 15% of the electoral vote in presidential elections but in reality they hold influence which is hardly commensurate with their percentage of support.
Democracy in action? I think not. It’s surely time to consider altering the electoral system.
almostbroke
February 23, 2014 at 11:34F as you and every other commentator knows there is no ‘democracy ‘ in Cyprus . How can you have democracy when the ‘elite ‘ citizens by that I mean the lawyers, professionals, business or in a lot of cases a combination of both have ‘rigged’ the various political paties selection process where they are the only ones who can go forward for election with a result most of the parliamentarians are lawyers ! The track record of Cypriot Lawyers leaves much to be desired so a priority would be altering the selection and electoral system . But turkey’s ( pardon the pun) are not going to vote for Christmas !
$77965177
February 23, 2014 at 13:47It’s incredible how the Brits, being citizens of the most corrupt and undemocratic country in Europe, feel justified in criticizing other countries about democracy! 🙂 ;-)))))
almostbroke
February 23, 2014 at 13:50just to put you straight ! I am not a Brit ! There are none so blind as those that cannot see and even worse don’t want to see
$77965177
February 23, 2014 at 14:23Then do enlighten us about your own country’s no doubt impeccable democratic record which justifies your holy rage against the lack of democracy in Cyprus
;-)))
almostbroke
February 23, 2014 at 17:15Well ! The parliament does not have 40 or so lawyers out of 56
$77965177
February 23, 2014 at 19:31So you advocate a non-democratic method of choosing MPs ;-)) Well done.
But you still have not told us your own country so that we can investigate the truth of your claims for ourselves, but we have to take your word for it. Splendid!
😉
almostbroke
February 24, 2014 at 10:59Are you ‘on something ‘ I am speaking about the ‘selection’ process in Cyprus . Not every one in Cyprus is a lawyer , if the selection processes is ‘democratic’ how come no teachers, trade union officials , farmers , office workers , trades people , shop workers , labourers and many others from the broad spectrum of Society are ever selected or is it only confined to the upper strata of Cypriot society
$77965177
February 24, 2014 at 11:58Someone who is ashamed to admit the name of his own country is hardly qualified to criticize anyone. ;-))))
almostbroke
February 24, 2014 at 12:04I replied to ‘frustrated ‘ it’s sufficient for you to know that ‘ frustrated ‘ knows what country I m from !
$77965177
February 24, 2014 at 12:19Ah, Pakistan! Now I understand ;-)))
almostbroke
February 24, 2014 at 12:32wrong ! As far out as a lighthouse !
$77965177
February 24, 2014 at 12:40There, there, no need to be ashamed.We all know that Islamabad is the capital of democracy. You should be proud! ;-))))))
almostbroke
February 24, 2014 at 16:33Ok if you think 40 or so lawyers is a ‘fair ‘ representation in parliament of the Cypriot people ! U r entitled to your opinion !
Cris Dan
February 24, 2014 at 15:37Nationality is irrespective here as we all are in Cyprus and discuss common concerns. Furthermore ,the selection criteria in each country of the world is same. ‘Merit’.
Secondly asking someone’s nationality is very irrelevant as many people are born in in one country but then for education and for international postings they live abroad always( merit) and then process of mental grooming makes people seasoned having cumulative wisdom .
Cris Dan
February 24, 2014 at 15:39and further- often parents are not from one place and children hold two nationalities .So world is modern and much more complex.
Rissole Bland
February 23, 2014 at 14:29An interesting comment especially when one considers the fact that 18% of the population are equal to the 80% majority of the island.
1960, democracy? my a..e!
Frustrated
February 23, 2014 at 15:38You’re comparing apples with oranges.
This article concerns Greek Cypriot politics. Nowhere does it mention Turkish Cypriots.
Rissole Bland
February 23, 2014 at 15:49No, simply applying the same principle to both cases. After all as you suggest they are both fruits, not exactly the same but still edible.
Frustrated
February 23, 2014 at 15:53If you believe that black’s white, that’s up to you.
James Shawcross
February 23, 2014 at 15:16Minority parties often hold the balance of power in democracies. In the UK currently the minority Liberal Party are keeping a Conservative government in power which the majority of electors never voted for. To suggest that this is something particular to Cyprus is just nonsense! .
Frustrated
February 23, 2014 at 15:33Nowhere have I written or implied that the situation “is something particular to Cyprus”. Your comment is therefore nonsensical and not mine.
anastasia
February 24, 2014 at 00:54Frustrated, the comments below, criticizing yours, have been dictated by a peculiar logic. (certainly not Aristotelian!!).
You refer to an anomaly of the functioning of Democracy in Cyprus. The first commentator, who manifestly disagrees with your approach, instead of focusing on Cyprus and expressing his disagreement with logical arguments, escapes from the “Cypriot issue” and starts arguing about what happens in other democracies and particularly in the UK. Moreover ,at a certain point, he seems to read his own projections and not the text itself. The second commentator, in his attempt to refute your view, is off-topic, makes incongruous comparisons and establishes arbitrary analogies.
I don’t think that these comments are a sign of crippled minds. I rather tend to believe that the commentators deliberately use an intellectual ruse for the sake of their ideological position, which takes precedence over logic and objectivity.
Gui Jun An
February 23, 2014 at 10:21DIKO was a spanner in the works of the previous govt and is behaving true to form. Why not at least wait for ‘the talks’ to be concluded? Such impetuosity by youthful and power hungry Nicholas will make DIKO irrelevant.