A DECISION by coalition partner DIKO yesterday not to contest the chairmanships and vice-chairmanships of semi-state organisations was seen last night as another nail in the coffin of the government alliance.
“DIKO will not be submitting any names for these positions,” party spokesman Fotis Fotiou told the Mail late last night. “In this way we are expressing our discontent at the President’s handling of the matter.”
Chrisotfias when asked to comment earlier yesterday at DIKOs stance, said: “It’s not a matter of give and take,” clearly implying the decision rested with him as it became increasingly obvious he would not satisfy DIKO’s core demands.
Participation in SGOs – bodies which implement government policy – is seen as a key political barometer.
It was no secret that DIKO placed a high priority on keeping the chairmanships of certain of the key SGOs, which will be decided today at an extraordinary cabinet meeting.
The terms of most SGO boards expire at the end of the month. Among the most coveted bodies are the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, which DIKO particularly wanted to hang on to.
Reports on Wednesday indicating that the chairmanship of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation would shift from DIKO to EDEK seem to have been the final straw for DIKO. The reports emerged after the two party bosses headed up to the Presidential Palace for a last-gap meeting with Christofias.
The coalition parties (AKEL, DIKO and EDEK) had been asked to submit lists of candidates to the President.
Speaking to newsmen yesterday Fotiou said that while they fully appreciated the President’s prerogative, his party was “disappointed” at the President’s overall stance.
The party convened its top decision-making body, the Executive Bureau to discuss the course of action given the President’s perceived snub.
The Executive Bureau, which started at 5pm, deliberated well into the night. At around 8pm Fotiou came out and asked waiting reporters to leave, as no comments would be made to the media.
DIKO will not be submitting any names to Christofias for people they consider fit to be appointed as chairmen or vice-chairmen of SGOs. The move is being interpreted as an unmistakable sign of discontent with the President. Others suggested it might also be a face-saving exercise.
The debate within the Executive Bureau centered on whether the party should go the whole nine yards by not giving Christofias any names at all, even for ordinary members of SGO boards.
Speaking to journalists earlier in the day, Christofias remained coy about his intentions, although it was
Relations between DIKO and the government have gone from bad to worse in recent months, the ill-feeling rising to the surface in hostile exchanges in the run-up to the European Parliament elections. Disagreements on the Cyprus peace talks became more than apparent during this time, with some DIKO cadres suggesting outright that the party should walk out of the coalition.
Commentators suggested at the time that Christofias might seek to “appease” DIKO by guaranteeing them their share in semi-governmental organisations, but events have taken a completely different turn.
