MATSAKIS is the only candidate who tells it as it is. This was the gist of MEP and presidential candidate Marios Matsakis’ press conference yesterday. He proffered his candidacy as “an escape route for the citizen away from the existing political folds”.
As the Mail reported yesterday, Matsakis outlined his plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
“Unlike the solution of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation, which is the equivalent of partition, this solution is one of partition within an EU framework. The mainstream solution being offered is an experimental one, with no world precedent.”
He called the July 8 agreement “a bubble, while no progress has been made since its inception.”
The most controversial part of his proposal is the recognition of the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.’
Matsakis claimed that this is no different from what would be involved in a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation. “The politicians are duping people by using the word ‘state’ instead.”
Hailing from occupied Karavas, he confessed that what he proposed was not easy to stomach, “but unless we do so, we stand to lose all our roots that remain in the occupied areas. It is a solution that satisfies all parties concerned. It is not an ideal solution, but it is one within the spirit of compromise.”
Replying to questions from reporters, Matsakis admitted that at his recent encounter with Archbishop Chrysostomos, the Church prelate had asked him to stand down.
He went on to say that he had been subjected to “a host of personal pressures which make me feel as a traitor for even running in the elections”.
However, he expressed his faith that he “will not succumb”.
The MEP went on to address other issues through which he launched a spate of attacks on the other candidates in general, and President Tassos Papadopoulos in particular.
He said that he “will not make a single political advertisement”, adding that the other candidates “should daily publish their sources of income and their spending, for the sake of transparency”.
Matsakis also accused candidates of “buying out votes” by offering to fly Cypriots living and studying abroad for the elections.
He intimated that the absence of a law that would facilitate setting up ballot boxes in embassies abroad makes it easy for those who want the votes, to spend money on bringing voters over.
“This is totally unacceptable; I cannot comprehend how the average Cypriot voter puts up with it. A better solution would be for those who want to subsidise voters’ plane tickets to donate money to an independent fund, and then each voter could independently apply for a subsidy.”
He also warned people to be wary of “fabricated surveys paid for by the candidates, aimed at phasing out anybody who is not part of the big three.”
Matsakis attacked the government for suddenly announcing a “social benefits sale” and called Papadopoulos’ suggestion regarding refugee building coefficient as “unfounded and ridiculous”.
The House of Representatives’ lax working schedule was not spared from Mastakis’ fire: “The House got three months off in the summer, and now another three months till after the elections.”
