POLITICAL pundits yesterday were still second-guessing how election alliances would shape, following what was termed a “critical meeting” between the bosses of communist AKEL and socialist KISOS.
Earlier this, week ruling DISY dropped a bombshell, proposing to KISOS co-operation in the upcoming presidential elections. The blitz move was seen as breaking up – at least temporarily – the entente reached among AKEL, KISOS and centrist DIKO. The three parties had struck an alliance in the recent municipal elections, and speculation was widespread there would be a repeat in 2003.
But while AKEL and DIKO dismissed outright DISY’s call for a government of “national unity” or “wide approval”, socialist KISOS adopted a more moderate stance, its chairman Yiannakis Omirou evidently keeping his options open; he has been slated as the likely candidate in the event DISY and KISOS join forces.
Following yesterday’s meeting between Christofias and Omirou, the two party leaders reiterated their parties’ respective positions. Christofias again described DISY’s proposal as a ploy, saying such tactics debased political life.
Omirou’s response was less negative; he said KISOS would study DISY’s proposal and would make its final decision at the party congress scheduled for 4 August. “Not since 1960, the establishment of the republic, has a centre-left politician run for president,” Omirou remarked, adding that “we have always supported the nomination of a progressive (i.e. non-conservative) candidate running on a progressive political platform. I think we really need to think about this.”
For his part, DISY chairman Nicos Anastassiades criticised AKEL and DIKO for dismissing the proposal out-and-out, accusing the two parties of being dogmatic.
Meanwhile the results of an opinion poll conducted by RCI were published in AKEL mouthpiece Haravghi yesterday, giving DIKO chairman Tassos Papadopoulos a clear lead over other possible presidential candidates. The objectivity of the survey was questioned by Anastassiades, who said it had been carried out at the behest of DIKO associates.
Behind-the-scenes negotiations among the parties are expected to peak over the next couple of weeks, as further surprises cannot be ruled out.
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