{"id":19753,"date":"2025-04-09T13:30:28","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T10:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/penna.cydialogue.org\/?p=19753"},"modified":"2025-04-09T15:10:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T12:10:07","slug":"in-the-era-of-political-hooliganism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/penna.cydialogue.org\/in-the-era-of-political-hooliganism\/","title":{"rendered":"IN THE ERA OF POLITICAL HOOLIGANISM"},"content":{"rendered":"
In the new era, the Cyprus issue is at best becoming a matter that concerns no one, and at worst, an irritating problem that must be resolved by any means necessary<\/b><\/p>\n
“When a clown moves into the palace, he doesn’t become king. The palace becomes a circus”<\/b><\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s and Vance\u2019s bullying during a live broadcast against a leader whose country has been under attack for three years, all in the name of peace, was not simply an uncomfortable moment. It marked the violent closing of one era as we knew it and the beginning of a new one characterised by political hooliganism. Power has been seized by politicians who, detached from ethics and political correctness, view international law as an unnecessary burden and friendly nations as options on a long list of potential victims.<\/span><\/p>\n Recently, some statements confirmed how ill-prepared Cyprus’s political elite was to grasp the magnitude of changes brought about by Trump’s election. First, the Defence Minister expressed certainty on the programme “Politics Otherwise” that America’s foreign policy doesn’t change according to who is President. A few days later, Averof Neofytou, speaking from America, described the image of a country changing for the better: “The waitress is looking forward to tax reductions as tips will no longer be taxed, while the businessman sees his shop full and customers spending more. The dramatic change in the US is that politics has returned to people’s daily lives,” he wrote. He expressed hope that Europe would follow America’s example and create our own MEGA (Make Europe Great Again). These views demonstrate an inability to comprehend how precarious Cyprus’s position is today.<\/span><\/p>\n Initially, discussions focused on the new political ethics. Another superpower was sidelining the principles upon which the world had been built in recent decades and behaving like a modern dictatorship. Testing the limits of the Constitution, chasing political opponents, proceeding arbitrarily with dismissals and appointing friends to key positions who had no relationship with the roles they were called to serve, many with clear conflicts of interest. Simultaneously, it began a process of revising international relations and the economy by imposing tariffs even on the closest economic allies and transforming foreign policy into business.<\/span><\/p>\n However, beyond creating a dangerous ideological foundation, this has practically established an absolutely dangerous political precedent. Trump’s approach to the Ukraine issue demonstrates how any pretences are now being abandoned. With the push to revise borders, the end of seeking a middle ground, the marginalisation of ethics and justice, and the elevation of power as the primary, if not only, characteristic of foreign policy. The principle that the territorial integrity of states is absolutely respected, which brought the dynamic and unified reaction of the West to Russia’s invasion, is being abandoned with remarkable ease.<\/span><\/p>\n In this context, the Cyprus issue at best becomes a matter that concerns no one and at worst\u2014should Trump decide he needs a power like Turkey by his side\u2014an irritating problem that must be resolved by any means necessary. If he is ready to handle such an important European issue as Ukraine in this manner, why would he have any reservations about dealing similarly with Cyprus, where the stakes are much lower? If he is prepared to immediately cut off any assistance to Ukraine to force it to capitulate and accept the facts on the ground, what makes us believe he wouldn’t just as easily lead Cyprus to a similar capitulation? How might we not similarly be instructed that realistically we should accept that lost territories cannot be returned and that the solution to the Cyprus problem will be the result of an agreement between America and Turkey, which Cyprus will simply be called upon to accept?<\/span><\/p>\n Cyprus under Nikos Christodoulides has focused all its diplomatic efforts, perhaps not unjustifiably, on strengthening relations with the West. In this context, it has often set aside international law, clearly aligning with Israel (even when other European countries were pushing for a ceasefire) and equating Western orientation with America. At present, it faces two Western poles, which may soon find themselves in opposing camps. The way it will navigate this balance will be both difficult and decisive. Cyprus cannot afford to confront America, but at the same time, it cannot afford to align with the hooligans either. Because the only thing it has to assert is justice. Which today is represented by neither America nor Israel. But above all, it must demonstrate seriousness. These times are not suitable for foreign policy designed for domestic consumption. Leaks suggesting “the President met with a close Trump associate” will not be able to hide potential developments that in this environment could be overwhelming. Nor is it time for protests about Turkey’s role in Ukraine. The dilemmas may seem significant, but the choices should be obvious.<\/span><\/p>\n This article was originally published on 09.03.2025<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Source: IN THE ERA OF POLITICAL HOOLIGANISM<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n