The presidential palace is seeking to calm the public row between DIKO leader Nikolas Papadopoulos and Finance Minister Makis Keravnos, as a clash that began over the electricity interconnector has spilled over into questions about the functioning and cohesion of the government as a whole. Speaking to CyBC on Friday, deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou rejected the image of two separate centres of power in government, following remarks by Papadopoulos, stressing that “there is one government” and that it is bound by the decisions of the Council of Ministers and the President of the Republic’s governance programme.
His comments came a day after Papadopoulos’ latest intervention, in which the DIKO leader called on President Nikos Christodoulides to clarify the role of the finance minister and asked whether “there are two governments”. Papadopoulos argued that the disagreements are not limited to the Great Sea Interconnector, but also concern, among other issues, pensions, the provident funds hit by the haircut, depositors and securities holders who suffered haircuts, and the state grant to municipalities. The row began escalating on 20 September, when Papadopoulos, speaking to Phileleftheros, asked why Keravnos does not resign if he disagrees with the President’s position on advancing the interconnector. The finance minister later replied that he has no intention of resigning, saying it is for the President of the Republic to decide whether any minister stays in government.
Christodoulides intervention left open
Antoniou acknowledged that there are disagreements, while seeking to frame them as part of normal political life. Disagreements “are logical, they are legitimate, they are part of the process,” he said, adding that the aim at this point is to defuse the public confrontation. Asked whether Christodoulides could invite Papadopoulos and Keravnos to the presidential palace to discuss the matter after returning from New York, Antoniou did not rule out such a scenario. He said this is in keeping with how the President handles similar disagreements, but did not announce any specific meeting. DIKO parliamentary spokesman Panicos Leonidou had already taken an initiative to ease the crisis and appears to intend to raise the issue with the President after his return from New York. Antoniou also said he was aware that Papadopoulos had been in contact with Christodoulides, but did not know exactly what the DIKO leader had asked for during their conversation. Papadopoulos himself had confirmed the contact, according to reports on Thursday.
Relations with DIKO ‘healthy’
Despite the tension, the presidential palace does not believe it faces a rupture with the Democratic Party (DIKO). Asked directly whether the government is concerned the confrontation could lead to a definitive break in relations between the palace and DIKO, Antoniou said no, describing relations between the two sides as “healthy”. He noted that DIKO is a key source of parliamentary support for the government and that figures drawn from the party serve in the Council of Ministers. He also rejected claims of government “double-speak” or a different policy line on major issues, arguing that the finance minister acts on the basis of Council of Ministers decisions and the governance programme.
