DIKO leader Nikolas Papadopoulos is once again visibly frustrated with Finance Minister Makis Keravnos's stance on the electricity interconnector project. He points to what he describes as contradictions within the government over the GSI, stressing that the President of the Republic states the interconnector will go ahead, while the Finance Minister "continues to demonise the project at every opportunity." He even asks why Keravnos does not resign, given that he disagrees with the President and considers the project disastrous for the country.
On the presidential election, Papadopoulos makes clear that "DIKO gives no blank cheques to anyone," saying any cooperation by the party "will be based on a specific programme, specific positions and an overall vision for the coming years." In a message aimed indirectly, but clearly, at DIKO ministers who rushed to state that the party already has a candidate for 2028, he stresses that everyone must respect the party's collective bodies and internal procedures.
You previously said there were contradictions in government officials' statements on the electricity interconnector project. Are you satisfied today with the Christodoulides government's stance on the GSI?
And there continue to be contradictions. For example, we have welcomed the statements of the President of the Republic, who has not only said the project will go ahead, but has made clear that all amounts owed by the Republic of Cyprus will be paid, following the issuing of the NAVTEX by the Greek government in the coming days. This is an entirely correct position, one DIKO agrees with, since the electricity interconnector will upgrade our geostrategic standing, provide electricity security, and reduce electricity prices. On the other hand, however, the Finance Minister continues to demonise the project at every opportunity, without ever pointing us to any studies or data to support his view. So for us, a very serious question arises: why, according to the Finance Minister, is the President of the Republic pushing forward a project that, in his own view, will be disastrous for the country? And if the Finance Minister disagrees with this project to such an extent, why doesn't he resign?
Presidential election
Is DIKO's support for Nikos Christodoulides a given? That's what was reported in the press after the Secretariat's meeting with the President last Monday.
DIKO's decision on the presidential election will be taken by the party's collective bodies, specifically the Central Committee, once our internal dialogue has concluded. That dialogue is under way as we speak, in the district conferences, local committees and the party's collective bodies. Within that process, we will assess the government's work, our cooperation within government, and the outlook for the next five years. So the party's decision is not a given for anyone, since that decision will not be mine to make, it will be a collective one. We also need to first hear from the President himself regarding his intentions, his vision and his proposals for the next five years. In any case, DIKO gives no blank cheques to anyone. Any cooperation on our part in the presidential election will be based on a specific programme, specific positions and an overall vision for the coming years.
Why can't continued alignment be considered a given? Aren't the party's relations with the Christodoulides government good?
For the reasons I've already explained. The decision on alignment will not be mine alone to make. No one can make that decision alone. We must all, therefore, respect the party's collective bodies, our fellow party members, and our internal dialogue. As we have said many times, our overall assessment of the government's work is positive, and DIKO has contributed more than anyone to shaping and implementing the government's programme. At the same time, we have repeatedly said that, in terms of consultation and coordination with the government, cooperation could be much better.
DIKO's district conferences are under way, and the discussion also touches on the presidential election. What's the mood on the ground? Is there a strong current in favour of any particular person?
At this stage, what is mainly happening at the district conferences is a mapping of the political landscape, an assessment of the government's work, and an analysis of the outlook for the next five years, both for our party and for the country. I'm not going to talk about trends or positions, because that wouldn't be fair to those fellow party members who have not yet had the chance to state their views before the party's collective bodies.
DIKO ministers
DIKO's presence in government increased after the reshuffle. In fact, some of the party's ministers have publicly stated that DIKO already has a presidential candidate for 2028, meaning Nikos Christodoulides. Could a relationship of dependency have developed, one that doesn't allow DIKO to make its choices independently?
There is no relationship of dependency, and DIKO retains its independence and its political positions. There is a relationship of cooperation, but as I've said, DIKO gives no blank cheques to anyone, and we must all respect our party's collective bodies and internal procedures. In my view, it is right that DIKO's participation in government has increased, since DIKO is today the only parliamentary party in government and the only governing party represented in parliament. Our role has therefore become even more important when it comes to implementing the government's programme.
ELAM
Does the hypothetical scenario of joint support for Nikos Christodoulides from DIKO and ELAM bother you?
We are not going to get into hypothetical scenarios before, first, hearing the announcements of the candidates concerned, and second, before we have made our own decision on the presidential election. We still have a long way to go, and as DIKO we will weigh all the relevant factors at the appropriate time, when we are called upon to make our own decisions.
A DIKO candidacy
The party's deputy leader, Christiana Erotokritou, recently said it is not ruled out that DIKO could field its own candidate. Given the party's effort to unite the centre ground, couldn't that goal be achieved precisely through a DIKO candidacy in the presidential election?
I'm certain we will hear various different proposals within our internal dialogue, from all our fellow party members. All suggestions and proposals will be assessed before we make our final decisions. That is the strength of democracy and democratic dialogue.
Cooperation with DISY
There is, in any case, a current within DIKO in favour of cooperation with DISY in the presidential election. Of the three names on the table on Pindarou Street, Annita Demetriou, Averof Neophytou and George Pamporides, which candidacy could best facilitate such cooperation?
As I said before, I'm not going to get into hypothetical scenarios about the presidential election before our internal dialogue has concluded. We must all respect the party's collective bodies and our internal procedures, myself first of all, since I also bear responsibility for safeguarding the integrity of that internal process.
Is cooperation with AKEL off the table?
I think I've already answered that, regarding hypothetical scenarios.
