By ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
This column was written before DIPA [Democratic Alliance] officially and definitively announced its support for the candidacy of Nikos Christodoulides – it must have taken place yesterday, after the meeting of its Political Council – and so we are not in a position to know exactly what has been said as regards the rationale that led to its (tediously predictable) decision.
I am, however, certain that Marios Garoyian [Translator’s note: DIPA leader] will, once again, have come out with something deeply moving, such as: “Faced with matters of principle, matters concerning the survival of the country, I have no interest in any chair, any office or any laurels” – with the exception, of course, of his haste to embrace the favourite every time. As he has done before – in 2013 for example, when he offered his generous support to Nicos Anastasiades, even though in July 2012 he had made the grand statement: “DIKO [Democratic Party] could not under any circumstances support a candidate who had supported the Annan Plan.” But, alas, (and this is what I’ve been getting at), it is that darn sense of responsibility towards his country that is so great that it ultimately forced him to be on the podium of the victory celebrations.
DIPA’s decision, therefore, to support Nikos Christodoulides will be based (unabashedly and unwaveringly, as is commonly said) on principled positions (as always) and on convergences (most certainly) reached after discussions with the independent candidate. Who in six months has received more ‘injections’ than the elderly population of this poor place over the course of two years of the pandemic.
This is indeed a gift and we must acknowledge it: To be able to keep all these people satisfied – people against a bizonal federation, people supporting a bizonal federation, anti-federalists, unificationists, with the right content and with none at all, those in favour of GESY [national health scheme] and those against GESY, those in favour of the Guterres Framework and those against the Guterres Framework, as well as the multiple ‘strong opinions’ on the economy and internal governance issues – is a talent that we have to give him credit for. It is rare to bump into someone so multifaceted, who can synthesise such disparate elements. This is confirmed by the statements of the parties and individuals who support him.
DIKO says it ‘bound’ him with an 18-point contract! EDEK [Movement for Social Democracy] and Sizopoulos with “a strong agreement, which was not only limited to a simple injection to his programme”. DIPA, as has already been said, held exhaustive contacts with him before and during the summer, in order to determine whether they were on the same page – and they were! Eleni Theocharous [Solidarity Movement leader] is happy enough to support the… “right content”, while Angelos Votsis [former DIKO deputy] (although to us he did seem aggrieved, because he [Christodoulides] did not promise him anything, while we’re aware of politically-lesser people than Votsis who were promised things) and rushed to support him, primarily (primarily!), as he said, because he has “a clear position on the solution of the Cyprus problem in favour of the AGREED BASIS of a Bizonal, Bicommunal Federation” – the capitals are his.
You realise that we are not dealing with a candidate, but with the tomb of Saint Neophytos – blessed be his name. That is probably why he is, as is being said, widely accepted in religious circles. So, with all these people arm in arm (let’s not start listing each one’s moral and incorruptible moments) and with the heavy shadow of the similarly incorruptible Nicos Anastasiades hanging over his head, if Nikos Christodoulides, who passed through the most “corrupt government” without getting his feet wet and who, by all indications (okay, we’ll wait for final result) will be the next president of the Republic, manages to… “oppose the establishment”, “fight corruption” and “give hope” to the beleaguered Cyprus problem, it will undoubtedly be a miracle.
Source: THE TOMB OF SAINT NEOPHYTOS
