DIKO Chairman Spyros Kyprianou yesterday insisted his decision not to run for the party’s presidency had not been taken at the last moment.
Speaking on Sunday at Diko’s constitutional conference, Kyprianou announced his decision not to stand again for the post he has held for 24 years when it goes to the vote in June.
He noted yesterday he had made up his mind after much thought.
"It was not a last moment decision, but one taken after much pondering," he said.
"It is wrong to say I resigned because of recent incidents; completely wrong," he added.
Kyprianou also said he would not be a candidate in the next presidential elections, but he would support Diko’s Parliamentary Spokesman Tassos Papadopoulos for President of the Republic.
Though he would complete his term as House President, he said he had not yet decided if he would run for re-election to parliament at the next general elections.
Kyprianou said he had always believed in renewal and that this was the moment for Diko to get on course for the next elections.
Diko Deputy Chairman Nicos Cleanthous told reporters that Kyprianou’s decision could become the catalyst to boost Diko.
Party deputy Nicos Pittokopitis on Sunday said the party had given a lesson in political ethics and democracy.
But he refused to comment further on how he felt about Kyprianou’s decision.
Pittokopitis last week said openly he did not favour Kyprianou staying on as Diko leader.
"There cannot be renewal in the Centre with Kyprianou," Pittokopitis said last Friday.
He added there had been an "orgy" of backstage contacts, trying to postpone the party’s annual conference to November instead of June.
Yesterday, he said he would not comment or answer any questions about anything that had happened before midday on Sunday.
Politicians from outside the party broadly agreed Kyprianou’s decision was an internal matter for Diko.
Left-wing Akel General Secretary Demetris Christofias said yesterday he did not wish to comment on Kyprianou’s decision, saying it was clearly personal.
"I do not wish to get involved. It is not my job," Christofias said.
He did say Kyprianou — a two times former president — should be commended for what he had done for the island.
"Irrespective of whatever people might think, Kyprianou is a person who cannot under any circumstance be underestimated. He devoted his life to the Cyprus question and politics in general," Christofias said.
Social Democratic Movement Leader Vassos Lyssarides also said he did not wish to give his opinion, not wishing to meddle in another party’s business.
Asked if he would consider following suit, 79-year-old Lyssarides reminded reporters his offer to stand down at the movement’s recent founding conference had been turned down by party members.
United Democrats Chairman George Vassiliou said merely that "others" should follow Kyprianou’s example.
"In Cyprus we have had the same people for 40 years," he said.
