The President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, expressed his disappointment tonight with the parties that voted against the executive branch’s proposal for the Deputy Ministry of European Affairs.

Speaking to reporters as he arrived at the Invest Cyprus International Investment Awards ceremony, he said, “I wish to express my disappointment that the leaderships of DISY and AKEL chose today to vote against the executive branch’s request in the House of Representatives to extendthe term of the Deputy Minister for European Affairs by six months, a request made by the Government in light of the ongoing discussions aimed at finalizing the Multiannual Financial Framework.

The MFF concerns the European funds that the Republic of Cyprus will secure from the EU over the next seven years, that is, the funds we utilize through the Cohesion Fund to carry out all these projects we see in our communities, our cities, and our municipalities, the funds allocated to our farmers through the Common Agricultural Policy, the European resources provided to address migration, and the European resources allocated to defense and security.

And I want to say that I expected this kind of behavior from AKEL; their anti-European sentiments are well known. I did not, however, expect it from the Democratic Rally.

A few days ago, we saw several statements from the parties regarding the successful Presidency; we heard it first and foremost—and this is what matters to us—from foreign leaders and the heads of the institutions, and we heard it from the parties in their statements; however, their actions are moving in a completely different direction.

At the same time, I would like to thank the political parties that acted responsibly and voted in favor of the Government’s proposal.”

When asked how he would proceed regarding Ms. Raouna’s portfolio, the President of the Republic said that “the executive branch always finds a way, and in this specific case as well, because for us, Cyprus comes first and foremost, and nothing else; how the Cypriot people will benefit to the greatest extent possible from all that I mentioned earlier through the National Development Plan. The executive branch will find a way.”