DISY: we hate to say, we told you so

DISY LEADER Nicos Anastassiades yesterday called for a radical overhaul of the 2011 state budget, noting that his party was ready to share responsibility for the difficult decisions that lay ahead.

Speaking after DISY’s Executive Bureau met to discuss Standard and Poor’s downgrading of Cyprus, Anastassiades highlighted that apart from the measures that had to be taken, a “radical revision” of the 2011 state budget was needed.

“Apart from the structural measures that must be taken immediately, what is urgent is the radical revision of the state budget for 2011 aiming for a reduction of government spending and curbing the deficit to below 4.5 per cent, as is our obligation to the EU anyway.”

He said DISY’s long-held position is that “the economy is as important as our national issue”. He added: “In the absence of government policy we find that, unfortunately, all DISY’s grim forecasts have been confirmed.”

Anastassiades said if the government had even partially accepted the comprehensive proposals on the economy suggested by DISY in the past, this “would certainly have limited the size of the problem today”.

The opposition leader said his aim was not to voice criticism due the government, “but neither should the government try to offload its responsibilities on to others”.

“What I would like to stress is that the time has come for difficult, yet necessary decisions. This is the great responsibility of the government.

And the Democratic Rally is ready to support these decisions and share any political cost to ensure the welfare and growth and hope of our country,” he said, adding, “In critical times, we all have to show the utmost responsibility.”