To retract the accusations he leveled against DIKO and the party’s president, Nikolas Papadopoulos “with the seriousness that characterizes him,” said George Solomou, Press Secretary of the Democratic Party, addressing Finance Minister Makis Keravnos.
Speaking on the “Alpha Kalimera” program, he explained that with his remarks about “nonsense” and “obsessions,” the Finance Minister had degraded the country’s political life and insulted politicians, particularly those from parties that support the government’s work and have “stepped up” to ensure the passage of important bills, such as tax reform, and to maintain the Cypriot economy’s high credit ratings. He also argued that Mr. Keravnos emerged as a politician during the Tassos Papadopoulos era.
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“The economic indicators did not materialize overnight; they were achieved through the hard work and sacrifices of the Cypriot people, supported by DIKO. We supported Nikos Christodoulides so that he would stay the course.”
Commenting on the remarks made by Nicolas Papadopoulos—which reportedly upset Mr. Keravnos—Mr. Solomou explained that he never called on him to resign. However, he pointed out to him that if he disagrees so strongly with the Cyprus-Greece electricity interconnectionand Greece via the GSI pipeline, why doesn’t he resign, since he himself keeps repeating that his resignation is on the President of the Republic’s desk.
“You can’t talk about the party that supports the government with eight members of parliament—and with serious bills on the agenda—as if it were preoccupied with trivialities. I won’t even comment on the reference to obsessions; such characterizations have no place here.”
READ ALSO: Makis vs. Nikolas: A heated clash with references to obsessions, absurdities, and lessons in political responsibility
At the same time, the DIKO Spokesperson called on Nikos Christodoulides to take measures regarding the government’s double-talk on a project of strategic importance and, if the Finance Minister’s Finance Minister regarding the cost are valid, they should be presented and explained to the public.
“We have a strategic plan; if it isn’t financially viable, they should come out and tell us publicly. He says he’s concerned about sustainability—has he told the President that the project shouldn’t go ahead? Have we heard what the consequences would be if it doesn’t go ahead? How much money will be saved in the long term to be allocated to social benefits?”
When asked whether Maki Keravnos’s statements had been discussed between DIKO and the President of the Republic, Mr. Solomou replied that “We discuss matters with the person whom the people have chosen to hold power, and it is up to him to determine whether there are any discrepancies in this strategic plan.”
“Mr. Keravnos should focus on economic matters; he has no business making such characterizations, disparaging the country’s political scene, and especially those who support him. Would it be ridiculous if DIKO voted in favor of the state budget?”
Regarding DISY’s support for DIKO in a statement on this specific issue, Mr. Solomou noted that this is a matter of supporting “sound political practice” and acknowledging that his own party would also be troubled by the situation.
“To ensure the economy gets upgraded, DISY and DIKO are working together.”
When asked if this was an indication of possible cooperation in the upcoming presidential election, Mr. Solomou replied that DIKO has not made any decision and does not have any potential candidates in mind, since even Nikos Christodoulides himself has not clarified his intentions.
SEE ALSO: DISY-DIKO “Thunderbolt”: They Support Each Other on the GSI and Denounce Contradictory Statements
