Eliades to support Mavroyiannis in presidential elections

Marios Eliades, who had been planning to run for president of Cyprus, will be backing Andreas Mavroyiannis in the elections, he announced on Tuesday.

Eliades withdrew from the race a day earlier, 14 months after announcing his candidacy as an independent.

Mavroyiannis is running with Akel’s backing and is the candidate Eliades said he trusts the most on the Cyprus problem but also in fulfilling the criteria he has for a future president.

These are: an honest, progressive and not corrupt individual.

“I have serious doubts over Nikos Christodoulides because he is supported by parties that are opposed to a solution on the Cyprus problem,” Eliades told Politis radio. He said he found it hard to believe Christodoulides was true to his word on his dedication to resolve the national issue.

“However, I believe (Disy candidate) Averof Neophytou is more dedicated to a solution than Christodoulides.”

Withdrawing his candidacy, Eliades said he did so because he failed to secure a consensus between political forces, candidates and members of the public, who shared similar goals, fears and concerns.

Nonetheless, he described the 14 months since he announced he was running for president as a beautiful journey.