Former chief negotiator for the Cyprus problem announces presidential bid (Updated)

Andreas Mavroyiannis on Tuesday morning officially launched his bid as a presidential candidate, emphasising that better days are possible for Cyprus, but there is no magic wand.

The announcement comes as no surprise to the electorate, as the former chief negotiator for Cyprus had received Akel’s backing. A scheduled official launch was delayed last week as a mark of respect for the passing of the late Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou.

On Tuesday, Mavroyiannis promised to unite those seeking progressive change in the island’s politics.

“We will fight with resolute energy, inspiration and determination that our homeland can, must and has the right to experience better days,” he said.

Earlier this month, Akel held a special congress where 90 per cent of delegates voted to support him for the 2023 election – following the party’s top echelons granting their blessing.

Referencing the Cyprus problem, an issue for which Mavroyiannis will likely receive considerable scrutiny, he said that efforts must be intensified to finally find a resolution.

“We [must] finally resolve the Cyprus problem, in a peaceful and just solution, a bi-zonal and bi-communal federation with political equality – for the benefit of all Cypriots,” he said.

Stressing the importance of such a solution, Mavroyiannis said that: “We owe it to all our people, we owe it to our dead, to our missing and their relatives – we also owe it to our Turkish Cypriot compatriots who will have their full position, their rights and respect which they are entitled to in a united Cyprus.”

He also stated that the economy will only truly prosper in the case of a solution, sharply increasing healthy and sustainable investment – while further enhancing Cyprus’ role in other sectors.

Elsewhere, he offered an inclusive view of his bid for the presidency, saying among other things that there would be no place for discrimination against women.

The burgeoning field of candidates, now close to a dozen, vying for the top spot has firmly thrown the island into a pre-election campaign status, close to nine months off from votes being cast.

Mavroyiannis joins Disy leader Averof Neophytou and Former Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides as those viewed as securing considerable chunks of the electorate. Mavroyiannis and Christodoulides emphasise that they are running as independents.

Neophytou was unanimously ratified as the party’s presidential candidate for the upcoming elections during Disy’s supreme council session in March.

Across the field, junior opposition party Diko is expected to decide in the next few days who to back, with apparently a high chance they’ll throw their weight behind Former Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides.

There is consternation amongst some within the electorate that those viewed as the most likely candidates to secure the presidency – namely Neophytou, Christodoulides, and Mavroyiannis – are all seen as being closely linked to the ruling government, with some wondering what change is truly on offer.

Other independent candidates include Achilleas Demetriades, Giorgos Colocassides, Marios Eliades and Christodoulos Protopapas.

Constantinos Christofides, former rector of the University of Cyprus, also recently announced his candidacy.