DIKO abandoned the government coalition yesterday over what appears to be disagreement with President Christofias’ proposals on the Cyprus problem.
“Unfortunately it was not possible to achieve a full agreement on the strategy of exiting the crisis,” Garoyian said after meeting Christofias yesterday morning. “Serious differences in the approach, assessment and positions concerning handling of the Cyprus problem remain.” “Therefore the dialogue ends and DIKO will cease its cooperation with the President”.
DIKO had said that staying in the government had hinged on the acceptance of several proposals the party had submitted to Christofias.
They were particularly adamant that Christofias withdrew a proposal that Cyprus’ Greek and Turkish communities share future governance via a rotating presidency and a weighted voting system, and another that would allow up to 50,000 Turks who settled in Cyprus after 1974 to remain.
Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said “It was known there was an issue regarding the Cyprus problem but the matter of withdrawing proposals, as the President told the national council several times, depends on the course of the negotiations. And now we are in the phase of the intensified discussions of the Cyprus problem spanning all fundamental matters.”
The spokesman said Christofias had expressed his regret over the end of the cooperation, adding that the new cabinet would be announced in the next days.
“Because the needs are pressing …the aim is to dynamically and decisively tackle the challenges the country has before it,” Stefanou said.
He said the new cabinet would have to deal with a stalled package of measures on the economy and discuss further measures to tackle the effects of the deadly July 11 blast that killed 13 and incapacitated the main power station causing an energy crisis.
DIKO’s exit has further isolated Christofias, whose popularity has plummeted following the blast.
Parties have also called for his resignation as did thousands of people who have been demonstrating outside the presidential palace since the explosion.
Asked if Christofias was concerned that the only party left supporting him was AKEL, Stefanou said he did not feel isolated and it was not the first time a government was backed by just one party.
Stefanou asked for an end to the continuous conflict “because times do not allow it, neither in the Cyprus problem, nor in domestic governance and much more on economic issues.”
He said Christofias will continue efforts to achieve consensus, at least for the basics, so that they are dealt with in the best possible way.
Cyprus’ presidential system ensures that DIKO’s pullout does not endanger the survival of Christofias whose term ends in 2013.
But the government relies on the parliament where Christofias’ party AKEL does not have a majority and in theory the other parties can make life for him really difficult.
And his isolation and unpopularity following the blast could affect Cyprus problem negotiations.
The Turkish Cypriot side said yesterday they were concerned but expressed hope that the situation will not affect the negotiating process negatively.
“We want our counterparts to be able to concentrate on the negotiations, which includes being able to engage in a give-and-take process and making mutual concessions,” said Kudret Ozersay, chief aide to Turkish Cypriot leader Dervish Eroglu. “We are determined that both sides are able to maintain their commitments to the UN Secretary General”.
Analyst Hubert Faustmann suggested that Christofias now lacks the popularity and political strength to deliver an inevitably unpopular settlement to the Greek Cypriot public.
“He’s turned into a lame duck on the negotiating table,” said Faustmann, an Associate Professor of History and Political Science at the University of Nicosia.
For any settlement to have a chance of approval, it would need the support of main opposition DISY, which has taken a harder line of late.
“I think DISY wants Christofias out” so that they take over, Faustmann said.
DISY said yesterday that DIKO’s exit confirmed the president’s isolation and his divergence with society “which is experiencing the results of his government’s inadequacy.”
The party said it was deeply concerned because the country was faced with dangerous impasses that are continuously worsened by the procrastination and diffidence that characterises this government.
