EXPELLED FORMER DIKO MP Zacharias Koulias yesterday hit back at his political executioners, accusing the party leadership of turning DIKO into a “political mule” and “satellite” of governing party AKEL.
DIKO’s executive office and parliamentary group overwhelmingly voted on Tuesday to expel Koulias and former deputy leader Georgios Colocassides from the party, citing actions that undermined and showed contempt to the collective decisions of the party organs.
Speaking to reporters from parliament yesterday, Koulias hit back, saying what took place on Tuesday was a “political coup” and “pogrom” under the guise of a “supposedly democratic process”.
He accused the party leadership, a clear reference to its leader Marios Garoyian, of having as its sole interest the desire to remain in power. The party reached its zenith when it campaigned for the “proud NO” to the Annan plan in 2004. But then, in 2008 the party leadership decided to vote for AKEL candidate Demetris Christofias in the presidential elections for the sake of the House Presidency, he argued.
They were only concerned about having “good times”, said the maverick MP, highlighting that when Christofias made “generous” concessions at the negotiating table related to a rotating presidency, weighted voting, Turkish settlers, Garoyian did not insist on their withdrawal.
He further questioned why DIKO decided to stick to the coalition government even after Christofias made clear that he would not withdraw those proposals, making it clear that he was trying to bring back the Annan plan.
“Let him not ask from others to follow him on the path towards the dissolution of the Cyprus Republic and allegiance to Turkey’s demands,” said Koulias.
The former DIKO MP accused Garoyian of participating in a corrupt war during the parliamentary elections to defeat “those who refused to accept the transformation of DIKO into a political mule of Mr Christofias, an AKEL satellite or a parrot of (UN Special Adviser Alexander) Downer”.
For these reasons, he refused to support Garoyian’s candidacy for the House Presidency last Thursday, knowing that this would be backed by AKEL in exchange for DIKO supporting Christofias in the 2013 presidential elections. Instead he backed socialist EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou’s candidacy, which led to Omirou getting the job.
Asked whether he planned to join the socialist party after being expelled from his own, Koulias replied: “No chance. I’m going nowhere. I will stay and defend the same ideas I have been defending until today.”
One thing’s for sure, when parliament next meets, Koulias will have to find another place to sit, as he will no longer be welcome on the DIKO bench. The exiled MP said he will find out today where his new spot will be in the House.
DIKO spokesman Fotis Fotiou yesterday responded to the wave of criticism, saying the only coup that took place was last Thursday “with Koulias’ apostasy in parliament”.
Colocassides made no comment yesterday.
