Former President Nicos Anastasiades made a rare appearance at the Political Bureau of the Democratic Rally (DISY) last Monday. Though few within the party were thrilled by the visit, the former leader seems keen to maintain his influence over DISY’s future trajectory. There were three aims behind his visit - two obvious and one secret.
First, Anastasiades sounded the alarm on the Cyprus Problem, warning that the party’s current stance (aligned with Glafcos Clerides’ legacy) was bleeding support to the far-right ELAM. His rebranding as a born-again Tassos Papadopoulos follower may complicate DISY’s positioning if reunification talks resume.
Second, he sought to convey a message of unity and party restructure. His encounter with Averof Neophytou at a funeral earlier in the day reportedly spurred the initiative. Both agreed the party was struggling with its younger members, so Anastasiades moved to rally the party’s “elders” in a display of rejuvenation. Apparently, he missed the recent message from DISY voters in Limassol, who sidelined senior figures like Ttimi and Hadjipavlou.
As for the unofficial motive? It was an exercise in political survival: a reminder that he is still active, still fighting, and still seeking to guide the party - particularly with the looming decision of the Anti-Corruption Authority in mind.
Pension politics
Clarification was recently requested from Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis regarding the newly appointed advisor to President Christodoulides - a retired brigadier who had served in the President’s campaign team.
The advisor, now on a gross monthly salary of €1,600 (on top of a public pension exceeding €3,000), will serve until February 2028. However, the public has been left guessing about the actual scope of his duties at the Presidential Palace.
This raises a broader question: should retired public servants be allowed to return to the payroll as advisors? Parliament could address this in December during the budget vote, simply by inserting a footnote banning the hiring of pensioners through the presidential advisory budget line. That would end such contracts by January 2026 - assuming, of course, a functioning opposition. It’s not about ageism. The President is free to hire whomever he wants, but taxpayers deserve transparency. With dozens of individuals currently employed at the Palace using public funds, is a published list of responsibilities really too much to ask?
Regional power and toilet cisterns
Cyprus recently delivered 25,000 tonnes of aid to Gaza under the Amalthea initiative - a commendable effort. President Christodoulides also scored a symbolic win with his invitation to the Sharm El Sheikh conference, further underscoring Cyprus' ambition to act as a stabilising force in the region.
But aspirations must meet reality. Despite our proximity to Gaza, the island only managed to send 25,000 tonnes of food aid, compared to the 62,000 tonnes distributed monthly according to the World Food Programme. The US failure to build a stable offloading pier led to a broader operational failure.
President Christodoulides spun the event as a success, noting that only 22 leaders were invited. He also claimed Cyprus submitted a plan to participate in Gaza’s reconstruction - only to be contradicted by contractors, and Viktoras later shifting the narrative to “sending pipes.”
Next thing we know, we’ll be discussing toilet cisterns.
To top it all off, came the claim (later denied) that Turkey tried to block Cyprus' participation in the conference - a statement that fuelled speculation, only to be debunked by a Turkish official in comments to the Cyprus Mail. The Phileleftheros newspaper, however, ran with it, suggesting it was unpatriotic to even ask for clarification. Evidently, asking for facts is now an act of treason.
ELAM: The grey zone
What many in political circles had been whispering about became public when ELAM’s First Vice-President, Vangelis Tsangarides, resigned. He confirmed on national television that his departure stemmed from disagreements over new candidate selections, particularly the inclusion of figures like Evgenios Chamboullas.
The old guard of black-clad ELAM loyalists, who rose through the party ranks, are reportedly uneasy with these new “shades of grey” within the organisation. At the heart of the dispute lies a parliamentary seat in Limassol - one Tsangarides viewed as his own and now feels threatened by Chamboullas’ candidacy.
Former MP Andreas Themistocleous criticised this authoritarian mindset, noting that the party still hasn’t held a proper congress, internal elections, or even basic democratic procedures. Some had warned of this long ago. What’s now clear is the theatrical absurdity of those willing to follow a man once dubbed the personal guard of Golden Dawn founder Nikos Michaloliakos, just for a shot at a seat in parliament.
Unquestioning loyalty
The Phileleftheros newspaper recently shared statements from the President and Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, implying that Turkey had attempted to block Cyprus’ participation in the Sharm El Sheikh summit. The statements were vague. Christodoulides mentioned “some actors,” while Kombos referred to “a shadow with influence and power on the international stage” - obvious code for Turkey, though no direct proof was offered.
When Cyprus Mail reached out to a Turkish official for comment, the answer was clear: no such intervention occurred. Phileleftheros responded by scolding those who dare question local media narratives, implying that trusting Turkish officials is somehow unpatriotic.
The takeaway? According to some in the media, government statements must be taken as gospel. Journalism, apparently, stops where nationalism begins.
Nicosia’s bypass: Underpass or overspend?
While not traffic engineers, even laypeople can sense something off with the escalating costs of Phase B of the Nicosia Ring Road. Of the 5.7 km planned, 3.2 km will be underground - at a depth of five metres - raising the projected cost to €130 million, or around €23 million per kilometre.
Is the underground section worth the expense? That’s up for debate. But any Nicosian driver can attest to the chaos on our roads. Traffic congestion is becoming untenable as populations grow but infrastructure remains stagnant.
There are two obvious solutions: either build overpasses or underpasses to ease urban congestion or decentralise by relocating ministries and major businesses outside of central urban areas. Easy solutions are long gone, and delays will only make the eventual price tag worse.
The curious case of Fidias’ party
Will Fidias Panayiotou's new political movement succeed? Experts say he’s unlikely to replicate the 77,000 votes from his first run, but at 3.5% he could still secure a seat in parliament.
His campaign messaging delivered via slick online videos targets young voters and those alienated by traditional parties. With a clown nose, he mocks the establishment and offers “Direct Democracy” as a compelling alternative.
Who will follow him? Likely those open to political experimentation: his 2024 voters, disillusioned youth, or even protest voters tempted by alternatives like ALMA or ELAM. Some might even defect from mainstream parties.
But crucial questions remain: Will the app he promises actually allow people to vote for candidates? Will all users be eligible, or will voting rights be restricted to registered and approved members? Who decides? Will the party have internal structures and elected leadership?