THE GOVERNMENT and ruling AKEL yesterday appeared satisfied by DIKO’s decision to stay in the government coalition.
“We welcome the decision of the Democratic Party’s central committee decision to continue its participation in the government,” government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said.
“This decision satisfies us because we too were in favour of continuing the cooperation.”
On Tuesday, the DIKO central committee voted overwhelmingly – 73 per cent – in favour of the party remaining in the government coalition.
Out of a total of 172 committee members present, 124 voted in favour of staying and 46 against.
This is considered a victory for DIKO chairman Marios Garoyian against the party hardliners who wanted an immediate departure.
It comes in the wake of the withdrawal of the other government partner, socialist EDEK.
Stefanou stressed that the government would do everything possible to improve and bolster the co-operation for the good of society and the country.
“Strengthening the co-operation comes through more frequent contact, dialogue, consultations and the expression of mutual respect,” Stefanou said.
The vote was welcomed by AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou who reiterated his party’s readiness to strengthen the coordination with DIKO.
Since supporting Demetris Christofias’ ascent to the presidency, certain DIKO members have frequently criticised him publicly, mainly for his handling of the negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem.
Asked how would AKEL react if the voices of discord continued, Kyprianou said respecting the decisions of DIKO was an issue the concerned the party itself.
“From then on, as AKEL, if we judge that we need to defend our either our party or the president, we shall do it,” Kyprianou said.
DIKO spokesman Fotis Fotiou said everyone in the party was committed to respecting the decision.
“The message we got from the members of the central committee … is that they want the Democratic Party to be the guardian of normalcy and they want us never to betray this mission,” Fotiou said.
Fotiou said it was not bad to have disagreements within the party as long as there was mutual respect.
DIKO general-secretary Kyriacos Kenevezos, who was among those who wanted the party to leave the government, said he will respect the decision.
“I fully respect the view of the majority and I will support it,” Kenevezos said.
He said the prevailing view at DIKO was to give the co-operation another chance with the expectation that in the course of time Christofias will listen to the party’s views or DIKO might succeed to changes certain positions it disagrees with.
