Christou confirms aim to run for Limassol

INTERIOR Minister Andreas Christou has confirmed his interest in running for the Limassol mayorship.

Perhaps the most popular politician in the Papadopoulos administration, Christou had long wanted to leave his portfolio during the recent government reshuffle, but had been persuaded to stay on by his AKEL party.

But his likely departure has posed the question of who will fill his shoes. Though there is little doubt that his successor will come from AKEL, the communist party now has the added headache of finding the “right man”.

Although AKEL would like an able successor to Christou, it would not want to sacrifice another top party figure to government, what with the presidential elections of 2008 not that far off.

Christou said yesterday the decision on who would run in Limassol for AKEL would be made “in the first weeks of September”.

The current mayor, Demetris Kontides, also hails from AKEL, but both he and Christou insist there is no antagonism between them.

Although Kontides has been very successful in the coastal city, Christou is earmarked as AKEL’s strongest card. So much so that even rivals DISY, eager to show they are non-partisan when it comes to local administration, are considering backing him.

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