DIKO chooses candidate for Mayor of Nicosia

By Rita Kyriakides

D.I.K.O. last night announced its choice of candidate for the Nicosia Municipality elections.

Former party member Kypros Chrysostomides, a lawyer who is currently president of the EPALXI political movement, was chosen by consensus after a three and a half hour meeting.

DIKO leader Tassos Papadopoulos called Chrysostomides an ideal candidate who ” will be good for the capital” .

The decision still has to be approved by the opposition coalition but is not likely to be challenged as DIKO was given first call on the candidate for mayor of Nicosia.

DIKO is contesting the December 16 elections in coalition with AKEL and KISOS.

Before the final decision, two of DIKO’s possible coalition candidates for the Nicosia municipality withdrew their names just a day after the party had put them forward.

George Colocassides yesterday chose to withdraw his name ” for personal reasons” .

Colocassides, who failed to get elected to parliament on the DIKO ticket in May, had said on Monday he was not sure if he wanted to stand for the Nicosia post.

Former government spokesman Christos Stylianides, whose name had not been announced on Monday, also said yesterday he did not want to be considered as candidate.

DIKO had said on Monday it had a fifth candidate up its sleeve, but would not name him or her until the time was right. It was not clear last night whether this referred to Stylianides or Chrysostomides.

On Monday, the party’s secretary general Andreas Angelides named four possible candidates – Stelios Ieronimides, Pavlos Theodotou, Nicos Mesaritis and George Colocassides – as well as speaking of the mystery fifth.

The opposition coalition have agreed to share out a total of 24 municipal posts. Intensive discussions are being held this week are to decide most of the coalition’s candidates.

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