Yiannis Karousos views Nikos Anastasiadis’s proposal for a preliminary agreement between the Democratic Alarm and Nikos Christodoulides regarding the presidential election as a sign of defeatism.
Speaking from the studio of the “Alpha Kalimera” show, DISY Vice President Yiannis Karousos—when asked to comment on the fact that the Democratic Alarm had distanced itself from the position of AvNeophytou, who has spoken in favor of lifting sanctions against Russia, and what would happen if Mr. Neophytou were to receive the party’s nomination, Mr. Karousos replied:
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“Whoever receives the nomination, a platform will be prepared within a framework that will operate under the Democratic Alarm banner. Each candidate will, of course, infuse this program with their own personal touch.”
He maintains that Averof Neophytou’s statements were misrepresented.
“The message he wanted to send was different. What came across in the media was something else. It certainly isn’t the position of the Democratic Alarm. The Democratic Alarm’s position is different. Mr. Neophytou made a proposal, taking into account fuel costs and the fact that this matter may need to be brought before the European Council to see how it will be handled, given that we are observing what the United States is doing, waiving some of the sanctions to benefit itself, of course.”
When asked to explain how his statements were misrepresented, he noted that some interpreted it as a proposal for Cyprus to lift the sanctions against Russia on its own.
When asked if a new “internal war” has broken out within the Democratic Rally, even before they have a candidate, he states that there is competition. When asked to comment on the perception that a war is already underway, he replied:
“The strength of the Democratic Alarm’s leadership in this process is to ensure that the person chosen by the people—by the grassroots, something that is happening for the first time in Cyprus—will be the one everyone rallies behind. Anyone who intends not to support the candidate selected through this process should walk out the door of the Democratic Alarm.”
Responding to a question about whether the leadership shares the same convictions, he states that there are certainly differing views on certain issues. “I think that’s also one of the reasons we did well in the parliamentary elections,” he adds.
When asked whether there is a different campaign strategy among the leadership regarding the two candidates, he replies:
“Everyone is free to support whoever they want, but we must maintain a certain level of political decorum and not lose sight of our party and our supporters in this process. Personally, I would have announced whom I would support, but for the sake of unity, I decided not to make an announcement since we need to keep a low profile.”
He opposes holding a debate and engaging in “name-calling,” since the Democratic Alarm supporters know both candidates very well and believe that the overwhelming majority has already decided whom to support.
When asked to respond to statements made by former President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades on an ANT1 podcast, who argued that moves were made too hastily and that there should have been a preliminary agreement with Nicos Christodoulides, Mr. Karousos expressed a contrary view.
“No hasty moves were made. On the contrary, we delayed. We should have had our candidate by September. We would have avoided a great deal of internal pressure that arose afterward.”
He adds that this way, the candidate will have several months ahead of him to prepare his platform and run a proper campaign.
As for the preliminary agreement with Nikos Christodoulides, he expresses his strong disagreement.
“I disagree. We shouldn’t even be bringing up and discussing this issue. That sends a message of defeatism. What, am I supposed to agree now, and if I lose, what will I do the next day? There are established procedures and collective bodies. Depending on the result, they will meet and a decision will be made. We shouldn’t be sending messages like this right now because it’s like sending a message of defeat.”
When asked to comment on an excerpt from the ANT1 podcast and statements by Nikos Anastasiadis regarding the rift with DISY, as well as his admission that he supported Nikos Christodoulides in the second round, Mr. Karousos stated:
“We need to put this whole thing behind us. And for everyone—everyone—now that the Democratic Alarm has put forward a candidate, this is an opportunity to prove that they care about the party as a whole and not specifically about any one candidate. That’s why everyone—from the former president, to the candidates, to Averof, to the party leadership, those who say they were with Christodoulides, those who say they chose something else— everyone is invoking party unity. In a few days, we’ll have a candidate. We’ll all see what they do. Personally, as I’ve said many times, I won’t accept someone being at the Presidential Palace in the morning and at Pindarou Street by noon. I will not accept my candidate—whoever he may be, the one I will support, the one selected through the party’s procedures—campaigning in this manner. I will not accept anyone standing alongside my candidate and his campaign staff, only to be at people’s homes and dinner tables with my main opponent by noon.”
“That is why all of us— all of us—those of us who invoke unity—have a unique opportunity to prove that we care about the party, that we follow our bylaws and not personal interests or the interests of our opponent,”, he concluded.
