The appointment of Nikos Tornaritis to the admittedly ingenious position of Special Advisor to the President on the Cyprus Issue in Asia and Africa did not merely highlight the deep rift within DISY. It reinforced the notion that extreme cynicism tends to prevail across the political spectrum. And it raised the question of how beneficial it ultimately is for society to have political figures who act without any moral filter. And without rules.
It wasn’t just the explanations that provoked laughter. Take, for example, Nikos Tornaritis’s audacity in attempting to morally legitimize the move by drawing a parallel between his appointment and that of Giorgos Vassiliou by Glafkos Clerides as head of thenegotiating mission for Cyprus’s accession to the EU. Ignoring Giorgos Vassiliou’s contribution to Cyprus’s EU accession process, or the fact that he had specific terms of reference, a specific task to carry out, and specific goals within a specific framework. There were also the government’s awkward explanations. They pointed out that ambassadors had been appointed to similar roles in the past, such as Michalis Attalidis under Tassos Papadopoulos. Obviously, it makes sense to appoint an ambassador who is familiar with the people and procedures in Europe to such a position. What exactly will Nikos Tornaritis be doing in Asia and Africa?
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
But there was also the question of how this appointment reflected on DISY itself. Nikos Tornaritis was third in line; he rose through the ranks and was favored while the party was particularly strong. Today, it is evident not only that President Christodoulides is attempting to undermine Synagermos, but also the difficult situation his party finds itself in. One would therefore expect Mr. Tornaritis, if only out of a sense of moral obligation, to stand by the party that brought him to prominence. Not to serve as the Trojan horse in Nikos Christodoulides’s effort to undermine it. If he, on the other hand, believes in the President and his candidacy, he has every right to follow him, explaining why he disagrees with the party’s collective decisions, and to openly support him in the upcoming elections. He cannot have one foot in the party, declaring himself a member of “Synagermikos,” while at the same time undermining collective decisions by covertly supporting the President just to stay in the spotlight.
All of this reinforces the sense that extreme opportunism has taken hold in politics—an opportunism that, unfortunately, is fostered first and foremost by the President of the Republic. A President who is also criticized for his contradictions. Because Nikos Christodoulides was elected as a non-partisan figure who would form a government of national unity. And while he was supported by the public because of his promise to rise above party politics, it is now clear that his main goal is to dismantle them. He is appointing not internationally recognized figures, as he promised, but willing Trojan horses. Who, in order to secure positions of power, are ready to undermine their own party under the guise of pluralism. This speaks volumes about the ethics governing front-line party officials. Above all, however, it speaks volumes about the character of a President who was elected on the promise that he would bring a breath of fresh air to politics. Over time, however, it has become clear that his efforts to remain in power show no respect for opponents, party procedures, or ethical codes. And that is not healthy—neither for politics nor for democracy.
