Solidarity Movement endorses Papadopoulos

THE Solidarity Movement on Thursday officially endorsed a proposal to back Diko leader Nicolas Papadopoulos for the 2018 presidential elections.

Solidarity’s central council adopted the proposal by 102 votes for, 4 against and 5 abstentions.

In a statement accompanying the endorsement, the party said a change of course was needed given that “the Cyprus talks are essentially dead, while moves are being promoted – overtly or covertly – that are not commensurate with the need to safeguard the Republic of Cyprus and Cypriot Hellenism” – a dig at president Nicos Anastasiades.

Shortly later, Papadopoulos released a statement thanking Solidarity and in particular its leader Eleni Theocharous “for her patriotic decision to withdraw her own candidacy and for honouring me by supporting my candidacy.”

Last month, hardline parties Diko, Solidarity and Edek agreed to support Papadopoulos as their joint candidate in next year’s general elections.

Citizens’ Alliance chairman Giorgos Lillikas said he disagreed with the procedure. Lillikas has already announced his candidacy.

 

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.