Former Finance Minister and Glafcos Clerides Institute president Harris Georgiades has voiced deep concern over tensions within DISY, saying the party increasingly appears to be engaged in an internal conflict and placing primary responsibility on its leadership.
Speaking on Morning Briefing on Politis 107.6 and 97.6, Georgiades said he was saddened by the situation, arguing that DISY had become the subject of public commentary and ridicule at a time when it should be preparing politically for the next presidential election.
Leadership bears primary responsibility
Georgiades was particularly critical of the party leadership, calling on it to take the initiative in ending internal disputes.
"The leadership is not simply without responsibility, and I have no hesitation in saying this publicly because I have also said it directly to the leadership. It bears the primary responsibility," he said.
He argued that DISY's leadership must lead, take decisions and, above all, ensure cohesion among its own members.
Georgiades said the internal disputes do not, in his view, reflect sentiment among the party's wider electorate, which continues to have positive expectations of DISY.
He also called on the party to focus on substantive politics and present a concrete political plan, arguing that the next presidential election should not become an opportunity to satisfy personal ambitions.
Georgiades takes aim at Karousos remarks
Asked about comments by DISY vice-president Yiannis Karousos concerning party figures who are "at Pindarou in the morning and at the Presidential Palace in the afternoon", Georgiades called for an end to the public exchange of insinuations.
"The first thing that must happen is for the politics of insinuation to end, especially when expressed on air," he said.
"If such an issue exists, it should be discussed where it needs to be discussed. But continuously feeding public opinion with insinuations, without saying who we mean and without knowing who everyone is referring to, is not a serious situation."
Addressing Karousos and other members of the leadership, Georgiades said they should act collectively and responsibly.
"What Karousos and the others need to do is sit down as a leadership and behave responsibly. Perhaps they should limit their media appearances when they have nothing substantive, positive and useful to add," he said.
'I am not giving up on any DISY supporter'
Georgiades also rejected approaches that favour pushing members or voters away from the party because they have made different political choices.
"I am not giving up on any DISY supporter, whether they are a voter, a member or a party official. I will not give them up, I will not expel them. On the contrary, I would make a major effort to bring back even those people we have lost," he said.
He argued that the party leadership should address the reasons members and voters have become alienated from DISY rather than encouraging them towards the exit.
Tornaritis appointment
Referring specifically to former DISY parliamentary spokesman Nikos Tornaritis' decision to accept a government role, Georgiades said he personally would not have accepted a similar proposal.
He argued that serving as part of the opposition while simultaneously assuming a government position is politically incompatible.
Georgiades nevertheless said he continues to regard Tornaritis as a DISY member and expressed hope that he would continue participating in the party's collective bodies.
He also said he hoped Tornaritis would ultimately support the presidential candidate selected by DISY.
