“We do not want to get into a discussion about this. It is the right of every citizen or politician, whether in office or not, to decide how they will conduct their political career or present themselves to the people.”
This was how Deputy Government Spokesperson Yiannis Antoniou commented on the intention of former DISY President Averof Neophytou to run as a candidate in the “race” for the 2028 presidential election. At the same time, he emphasized that “the burden of proof falls on his shoulders” regarding the condition he set that he would announce his candidacy based on developments in the Cyprus issue by the end of the weekend, while President of the Republic Nicos Christodoulides is in NewNew York, where he is participating in the proceedings of the 81st UN General Assembly.
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“What do ‘black’ and ‘spiders’ mean, and what does it mean if there are no developments? There may be developments that aren’t positive; there may be developments that are positive, but he himself may view things as bleak and hopeless.”
When asked about the recent meeting between Christodoulides and Neophytou, Mr. Antoniou said that the President of the Republic responded to the former DISY President’s request to brief him on the Cyprus issue before his trip to New York.
“That’s all. I don’t know anything more, and I can’t tell you anything else.”
When asked whether the Democratic Party would support Nicos Christodoulides in a potential re-election bid for the presidency, in the “wake” of the dispute between Makis Keravnos and Nikolas Papadopoulos over the Cyprus-Greece electricity interconnection via the GSI pipeline, the Deputy Government Spokesperson said that “for us, there is no broader issue with DIKO.”
“There is the disagreement that has resurfaced recently due to Mr. Papadopoulos’s statements—and such disagreements are legitimate. As for whether this will serve as a reason, cause, or pretext for the decisions DIKO will make—which are entirely respectable—that is something you must ask them directly. I am conveying to you the position of the President and the government: we want this cooperation to be as productive as possible; where there are disagreements—which are legitimate—they should be discussed among partners so we can see how they can be resolved.”
“DIKO has made a decisive contribution to all policies, something of which the government is proud across the board,” said Mr. Antoniou, “and from there on, if there are any issues, we will discuss them.”
“They exist in the sense that once they are made public, they enter the public sphere, a discussion ensues, they are rehashed, and essentially, a sense of introversion is created, which is not exactly ideal.”
The Deputy Government Spokesperson did, however, confirm DIKO’s request during the recent cabinet reshuffle, that the Ministers of Finance and the Interior should come from the party’s ranks; when asked whether Makis Keravnos has the support of President Christodoulides, he replied, “Why would he be there?”
READ ALSO: “Everyone needs to tone it down”: Antoniou’s appeal to Makis and Nikolas, and his response regarding government agreements that aren’t being implemented
