Political tensions between the government, DISY and AKEL continued unabated on Sunday against the backdrop of recent appointments to the boards of semi-governmental organisations.
The latest clash was triggered by comments made on Saturday by President Nikos Christodoulides in response to criticism directed at the government over the appointments process.
AKEL returned to the issue with fresh criticism, arguing that the controversy surrounding the appointments remains very much alive and continues to generate political reaction.
The party described the president's remarks as “a mockery of society”, insisting that answers and accountability are still required regarding how individuals were selected for the positions.
DISY adopted a similar stance, criticising the president's response to the political criticism.
The party described Christodoulides' remarks as “unacceptable, offensive and deeply divisive”, arguing that the debate should focus on the substance of the appointments rather than political rhetoric.
Government Spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis entered the dispute by drawing attention to the similarity between statements issued by DISY and AKEL, referring to their shared arguments and what he called “impressive synchronisation”.
According to Letymbiotis, the reactions of both parties effectively confirm the government's assertion that the leaderships of DISY and AKEL have become politically aligned.
“Political alignment no longer needs to be pointed out. It confirms itself every day,” he said.
DISY responded again, rejecting that line of argument and accusing the government of attempting to shift the discussion away from the merits of the appointments.
According to the party, whenever the government cannot adequately justify its decisions to citizens and the media, it resorts to claims about political alignment between opposition parties.
The dispute intensified further with another intervention by Letymbiotis, this time focusing on DISY's position regarding the Advisory Council, the body established to review candidates for appointments.
The government spokesman questioned whether DISY genuinely views the Advisory Council as a positive institutional reform.
He argued that when the government first established the body, DISY criticised and questioned it, whereas now it cites the council as a guarantor of meritocracy in the appointments process.
AKEL: ‘The appointments party never ended’
In its statement, AKEL said the government's appointments policy had not improved but had instead intensified.
The party pointed to reports that DIKO president Nicolas Papadopoulos had recently pressed for greater representation of his party in semi-governmental organisations.
“The appointments party has not only failed to end, it has intensified.”
AKEL argued that Christodoulides had focused on re-election since the first day of his presidency and had incorporated appointments into that strategy.
The party accused him of abandoning promises made during the election campaign regarding transparency, meritocracy, balanced representation of men and women and safeguards against conflicts of interest.
AKEL also noted that the president had promised to publicly explain any decision to reject recommendations made by the Advisory Council.
“He explains none of his decisions. He provides no accountability to society.”
According to AKEL, the wider problem is not simply the appointments themselves but the gap between what Christodoulides promised as a candidate and what he is doing as president.
DISY: ‘Focus on the substance’
DISY criticised the president for making political remarks during a commemorative event and accused him of failing to respond calmly to criticism.
The party noted that Christodoulides had repeatedly questioned what separates his own policies from those of DISY, yet had now sought to portray DISY and AKEL as effectively the same.
DISY stressed that it has frequently provided crucial support for specific government policies when it believed they served the interests of the country.
At the same time, it insisted that it would not abandon its responsibility to subject government decisions to scrutiny.
“The Democratic Rally will continue to offer documented criticism wherever it is required.”
Government: ‘The alignment is obvious’
In response, Letymbiotis argued that the statements issued by DISY and AKEL served as the strongest possible validation of the president's claims.
“Same issue, same arguments, same attack and, once again, impressive synchronisation.”
He said the leadership of DISY complained about being linked to AKEL while AKEL simultaneously issued a statement reinforcing the same arguments.
“It would be difficult to find a more eloquent answer.”
According to Letymbiotis, the convergence between the two parties is no longer a political slogan but a daily reality.
He also suggested that DISY and AKEL could go a step further and coordinate not only their positions but the timing of their statements.
DISY presses for answers
DISY responded by arguing that the key issue remains unanswered.
The party called on the president to explain why many of the appointments involved individuals linked to governing parties or personal supporters of the president.
It also repeated questions about candidates allegedly appointed without first submitting applications through the Advisory Council process.
“Does he want us to believe they were simply the most capable candidates?”
DISY stressed that it neither sought appointments nor believes political parties should participate in dividing positions.
The party argued that the government's recurring references to a supposed DISY-AKEL alignment have become a communications tactic designed to avoid accountability.
Government challenges DISY over the Advisory Council
Letymbiotis replied that DISY had already issued three separate statements in one day, which he claimed only reinforced the president's criticism of what he called a “statement industry”.
He also challenged DISY to clarify whether it supports the Advisory Council or not.
According to the spokesman, DISY originally sought to undermine the institution when it was created but now relies on it as evidence in its criticism of the appointments process.
Letymbiotis argued that the opposition party has yet to propose an alternative appointments model or present a concrete proposal of its own.
“Position and proposals must come before negativity.”
He concluded by saying that if DISY's statements, arguments and positions continue to coincide with those of AKEL, the issue is not that others point out the alignment.
“What may be troubling is the alignment itself.”
