No one disputes Cyprus’s highly successful EU Presidency. And certainly, if a Deputy Ministry of European Affairs needs to be created, then this should be done only after the necessary dialogue with the political parties and Parliament has taken place. The government has every reason to argue that extending Marilena Raouna’s term is necessary. However, it must adequately explain what it would offer that is different from the structures already in place at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If there is a risk to European funds should her term not be extended, this must be made clear to both the public and the political parties themselves. At the same time, however, the government must learn to cooperate with Parliament. Because if there is one thing we see frequently, it is that the government presents a fait accompli by introducing bills as urgent matters, and in many cases coerces the majority into agreeing. 

But we need to be honest here. The tension that has arisen between the President’s Office and DISY in recent hours is not limited to whether or not Marilena Raouna will extend her term. There is a bigger picture, and it has to do with the 2028 presidential election, with the President’s Office and DISY staking out their respective positions.

READ ALSO: Storm of reactions over Raouna’s term: Online clash between Letympiotis and Koulla over “cronyism” and “disrespect”

It is a battle for the center-right audience. Following the sounding out of Synergatiki officials regarding ministerial appointments, DISY wants to make it clear to Nicos Christodoulides that it stands opposed to him and, by extension, will intensify the confrontation by attacking Nicos Christodoulides for cronyism. This is a confrontation we did not see during the parliamentary election campaign, but it will intensify given that the number of contenders for the nomination within DISY is growing.

President Christodoulides, on the other hand, is attempting not only to promote the narrative of successful governance by extending Ms. Raouna’s term. He wants, by any means necessary, to keep part of the center-right audience—and especially the DISY audience—close to him. It is by no means a coincidence that it is attempting to equate Pindarou’s policies with those of AKEL in order to stir up anti-AKEL sentiments among swing voters. This is therefore one of the many episodes we will see between the two sides until the official start of the election campaign. Whether this will rally the supporters on each side or, of course, wear down citizens who are caught up in a never-ending election cycle remains to be seen.

READ ALSO: “Parliament Cannot Be Blackmailed”: Annita Accuses the Government of Sloppiness and Fires Back at Raouna’s Tenure