FORMER COALITION member EDEK spent two years behaving more like the opposition than a government partner, said President Demetris Christofias yesterday in a strong-worded reaction to the socialist party’s decision to leave government.
The president said he was not surprised by EDEK’s Monday night decision, though he regretted it, and charged the party with acting in haste.
“It would be normal and ethically correct for the EDEK leader to have taken his decision after the planned meeting of coalition party leaders with the president,” said Christofias.
A meeting was set for February 1, on request from EDEK, in an effort to overcome existing problems and strengthen cooperation between the government and the two coalition partners, DIKO and EDEK. The meeting was postponed for later this week due to the visit of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
“I must honestly confess that EDEK’s decision did not surprise me. Unfortunately, throughout our collaboration, while participating in government, EDEK effectively ran as the opposition, both regarding the Cyprus problem and on many issues of domestic governance,” said Christofias.
EDEK’s two members in the Council of Ministers submitted their letters of resignation yesterday to Christofias, who asked that they stay in office another week until their replacements are appointed.
Communications Minister Nicos Nicolaides and Agriculture Minister Michalis Polynikis thanked the president for the “excellent cooperation” and support they enjoyed in cabinet.
Their resignation came a day after EDEK’s central committee decided by majority vote, 115 votes in favour, eight against and three abstentions, to withdraw from the government coalition. In his speech, EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou cited his party’s “total disagreement” with Christofias’ strategy on the Cyprus problem.
In a televised speech yesterday, the president hit back at his former allies, saying he could not see any real gap in approaches to the Cyprus problem as had been stated. “There’s been no recent development on issues in the negotiations where EDEK has voiced disagreement to justify the decision to leave government,” said Christofias.
He underlined the fundamental principle on which negotiations in Cyprus are taking place, which is “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”, noting that this was reaffirmed during Ban’s visit to Cyprus.
“Unfortunately, we are not as close to a solution as some – both here and abroad – would suggest, but we are working for a solution and this process is ongoing,” he said, adding that while problems do exist, so do prospects for a solution.
“No one can pre-empt the outcome, and no one can claim that we are trapped on a dangerous path. That is unsubstantiated and I regret to say wrong,” he said.
He argued that the government handling of the Cyprus problem has strengthened the Greek Cypriot side’s position. “This is why EDEK’s decision to withdraw from government, especially at this time, raises questions and makes me feel regret,” he said.
“Continuously raising doubts inadvertently sends negative messages to the international community. I expected and continue to expect more support on the domestic front,” he added.
On criticism that he has failed to keep political parties briefed on developments, he said during his term in office he has called 18 National Council meetings, three meetings of the informal party leaders council and had private meetings with party leaders.
“I do not claim to be infallible. I am guided by the saying ‘nobody is infallible’. However, it is unfair to suggest that political parties and the National Council are briefed ex post facto. With all due respect, this does not reflect reality,” said Christofias.
The president highlighted that his first priority since his election in 2008 was to solve the Cyprus problem and end the occupation. “My ideology is Cyprus, its reunification and salvation.”
