By ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
Last Sunday, two articles in two different newspapers raised the issue of the ‘elephant’ in the room at Pindarou Street. [Translator’s note: Location of ruling party DISY (Democratic Rally) headquarters] As expected, the following day, [journalist] Giannis Kareklas took the opportunity to question the president of DISY directly, on Sigma television channel, regarding Nicos Anastasiades’ stance [on the upcoming elections]. Averof Neophytou did not seem to be caught off guard. Rather, as one long prepared, and graced with courage, as the poet would say, [Translator’s note: line from the poem ‘God Abandons Antony’ by Constantine Cavafy] (I would say instead: as one consistent in the clumsiness shown throughout his election campaign), he was quick to put forward his position, calmly and clearly, surprising even high-ranking party officials. Some of whom have made sure to keep their distance. The question, then, is: Why?
Everyone knows about the behind-the-scenes role of Nicos Anastasiades, with the exception of a few ‘romantics’ in the DISY camp, who are utterly flabbergasted, saying that “they didn’t expect it”. But, when you spot snake tracks, you needn’t wait around to see the snake itself, it’s around there somewhere, as my grandfather used to say. We noted this last March, two months before the former Foreign Minister officially announced [his candidacy]: “…is it a coincidence that NC [Nikos Christodoulides] seems to be doing extremely well in Limassol, where the President’s inner circle is holding get-to-know-you dinners with the potential candidate? And just to be clear, we don’t mean his family environment. We mean his circle of friends, business associates…”. So the stance held by persons over whom Anastasiades has influence – the media, businessmen, business associates, socialites – has its significance. On the other hand, it is a fact that, in public at least, he said what he was obligated to say, it was his ‘duty’, if you like, to support Averof, with whom, we should note, he never had… an emotional attachment. It was more akin to what we call… a win-win situation.
However, the night after the announcement of Averof’s candidacy, Nicos Anastasiades did not just have dinner with him – with the familiar composition [of people sitting around] at the table, which the media interpreted as an as “all round show of support” – he also made sure to point out party procedures to anyone who wished to contest the nomination. At a later stage, from the party platform, he stated, and not just once or twice, with numerous variations, what he had to say: “Everyone must become aware that if the party does not rally together united, we will face the tragic phenomena of 2003. And I am not prepared to be a part of this. And I want to emphasise and underline this: You are being deceived by what is being said or deliberately disseminated. For me, there is only one choice. The choice of the leader of the party, my capable and proven partner, Averof Neophytou.”
Why then, instead of emphasising Anastasiades’s (public) show of support, is Averof Neophytou stressing his doubts over who is Anastasiades’s preferred candidate? Is it because of the… jokes at the Melathron? [Translator’s note: reference to Anastasiades’ address at the EOKA veterans’ rehabilitation centre where he said that irrespective of who will win the elections, he will retain his influence as all leading candidates are associates of his] Does he expect to come out of such a showdown a winner? It would be utopian to even consider it. Is he hoping that in this way, he’ll win over people from the DISY camp? It is more likely that by raising doubts over Anastasiades’s preferences, the opposite will happen, since Anastasiades is just who he is for the people of the party. Is he looking to a different pool [of voters]? “That ship has sailed.” What then? What is the end goal of his frontal attack? To stop him meddling behind-the-scenes? To get Anastasiades to start a coffee shop tour [in Averof’s favour]? To repeat the line: “There is only one choice: Averof”? And then what? Or has Averof Neophytou begun to realise what is in store for him – because, as the poet goes on to say: “…say goodbye to her, the Alexandria that is leaving” – and has begun the process of managing defeat? Imagine if he found out that Anastasiades has also set out to oust him from the presidency of the party. Because Anastasiades knows that he himself will bring about unity within the party more effectively than any Averof ever could, when the time is right. Add to this a few players inside the party who are looking forward to a ‘DISY renaissance’ after the hit they have taken. Unless, of course, AN [Averof Neophytou] is aware of all this and everything is a prologue to his next move…
