Nikos Christodoulides is mulling over the new government lineup, though his overtures toward Pindarou appear, at first glance, to be falling flat. Although the President of the Republic himself would like to have allies on board as he sets his sights on the presidency, the public debate of the last few hours is causing second thoughts on the hill.

Elena Kousiou faced backlash for accepting a position in the government as a commissioner, according to the presidential office. After all, she had previously been appointed president of the Cyprus Land Development Organization under Christodoulides.

“There has been a feeler to resume our previous collaboration, but not as a member of the cabinet.” ^{Konstantinos Letympiotis, Government Spokesperson}

Pindar officials, on the other hand, state that no specific position was proposed; it was merely a matter of sounding him out. It appears that the Presidential Office had in mind her appointment, if not to an existing committee, then to a new one currently in the works. She herself does not clarify the nature of the proposal made to her, but she wants to put an end to the matter by stating to Alpha that:

“It is the inalienable right of the President of the Republic to make public statements regarding the issue of the cabinet reshuffle. For me, any such consideration is, in any case, an honor.” ^{Elena Kousiou Hatzidimitriou}

She also rejects the notion that Anita Dimitriou rushed to appoint her as the party’s deputy press secretary in order to keep her at Pindarou Street. Sources report that a week after the elections, her party’s president had told her she was considering two positions for her within the party.

Nikos Tornaritis denies that he was approached by the President. While the President’s office denies any contact with Poly Kourousidis, he himself neither confirms nor denies it.

A bridge is being “built” with DIKO

A week after their last one-on-one meeting with the President, Nikolas Papadopoulos and the rest of DIKO’s leadership will once again cross the threshold of the Presidential Palace on Friday.

The DIKO President will have a list of proposed names in his briefcase, in case they are needed for a cabinet reshuffle aimed at expanding his party’s influence in the government.

Nikos Christodoulides is expected to reach out to the centrist camp, but he remains determined to appoint coalition members at least to the presidencies of semi-governmental organizations.

See the report by Evangelos Agapios