The DISY Political Bureau has decided to endorse the candidacies of both Averof Neophytou and Giorgos Pamporidis, as well as any other potential candidate, for its internal party procedures, as stated by the party’s Member of Parliament Charalambos Pazaros during an appearance on the “Alpha Kalimera” program.
When asked if he had signed in support of Averof Neophytou’s candidacy, Mr. Pazaros stated that, based on the Political Bureau’s decision, they will sign in support of all candidates.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“There is a decision by the Political Bureau that we will endorse all potential candidates, so we have endorsed both potential candidates.”
When asked if there was anyone who had not signed for both, he stated that he was unaware of this and speculated that if anyone had not done so, it would be because they had not been approached. “I don’t believe that anyone—if there were any objections or reservations—would have voiced a contrary opinion at that time in the political office,” he noted.
Read also: President of the Republic Claps Back at Critics: “We Are a Responsible Government; We Are Not Interested in the Next Elections but in Future Generations”
Mr. Pazaros also commented on President Christodoulides’ statement that he is not concerned with the next elections but with future generations.
“Anyone involved in politics and engaged in political activity is clearly also interested in the next elections. However, I understand that the President does not want to enter into a hasty election campaign. That’s perfectly understandable. But right now, he’s campaigning every day as President of the Republic—everyone can see that—and it’s his absolute right, and that’s what he needs to do, to be honest.”
Read also: These are the DISY officials who signed in support of Averof’s candidacy
When asked to comment on Nikos Anastasiades’ proposal for a preliminary agreement between DISY and Nikos Christodoulides regarding the second round, he described the discussion as premature.
“I don’t think that, as President of the Democratic Council of the Republic, he should be getting involved in this process because that isn’t the winning message we should be sending as the Democratic Alarm, and it could raise the questionask my friend Nikos Christodoulides whether, if he doesn’t win and goes to the second round, he would support the Democratic Alarm. So, 18 months later, we shouldn’t get into this process because people will interpret certain proposals or approaches differently, and we have to be very, very careful about what we say publicly.”
He emphasizes that what matters is the fact that the two candidates have shaken hands and agreed that whoever does not receive the “nomination” will support the one who does.
“Whoever wins the election, I hope and pray to God that it will be for the good of our country,” he stated emphatically; when asked whether that person must be right-wing, he replied that he does not subscribe to that philosophy.
“It seems that, at least in recent years, a liberal faction has been more effective in the Western world—without implying that, ‘Oh my God, please don’t let him be anything other than right-wing.’ He doesn’t subscribe to that philosophy; I believe a person’s potential lies not only in their ideological convictions.”
Commenting on President Christodoulides’ statement, AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros called it deeply offensive to the entire Cypriot people.
“He’s mocking us right to our faces. If he thinks… I don’t know if anyone in the President’s Office believes that the Cypriot people haven’t realized they’ve been running an election campaign for many, many years now. For a very long time. Nikos Christodoulides is in a constant election campaign. Everything he does from morning till night is driven by his concern for the upcoming presidential election. Nothing else.”
He adds that the Cypriot people do not feel at all good about this budget surplus of which the President is so proud.
“Because the budget surplus has resulted from inflation. When inflation rises, it’s a cause for celebration among finance ministers because they rake in millions and billions into the state coffers through taxes. It’s the percentage on which taxes are levied. When inflation runs rampant, government revenue also increases.”
ALMA MP Michalis Paraskevas agrees that President Christodoulides has been in a constant election campaign ever since he was a minister.
