Finance Minister Makis Keravnos’s move to dismiss as political nonsense the questions posed by DIKO President Nikolas Papadopoulos regarding why the former does not resign since he disagrees with the GSI was enough to bring the very poor relationship between the two men back into the spotlight. A strained relationship that clearly cannot be resolved by Panikos Leonidou’s attempts to “defuse” the situation or by various others who have offered to mediate. On the contrary, it is spreading between DIKO and the government. At the same time, however, it has sparked a debate over whether this constituted a significant blow to the DIKO president’s reputation. This has effectively legitimized the other DIKO ministers in disregarding him—just as Mr. Keravnos does. And to adopt similar positions in support of Nikos Christodoulides. What is certain is that those familiar with the background were not surprised, given the long-standing strained relationship. The question, however, is whether this stance by the Minister of Finance will force the President of the Republic to take a position by distancing himself from the minister in an effort not to lose the support of the largest party in the. Or, of course, whether he will let the issue hang in the balance, adding fuel to the fire of the already highly problematic relationship within the coalition government.
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