PRESIDENT Tassos Papadopoulos last night formally announced his bid for re-election in a 20 minute speech broadcast live across the nation on all television channels.
Predictably the monologue predominantly focused on the Cyprus problem and set the scene for his presidential campaign.
The first 10 minutes of the speech focused on the Annan plan and how the Greek Cypriot side had shared his concerns and attitude “together” by rejecting the plan in 2004.
“Today we should feel proud [of that decision],” he said.
Unlike the speech calling for a rejection of the Annan plan three years ago, Papadopoulos did not shed any tears during last night’s monologue.
Nevertheless the president did repeatedly reiterate his desire for a solution that took both communities’ fears into consideration and said the July 8 agreement had opened up new roads to reach such a solution.
He also said the rejection of the Annan plan was not a rejection of a solution to the Cyprus problem, but a rejection of the plan itself.
Papadopoulos said he was voted into power in 2003 so that he could secure the Greek Cypriots’ rights.
“To achieve a solution and not dissolution,” he said.
Papadopoulos spent five minutes briefly outlining his government’s internal political achievements including its economic reforms, improved health care, simplified bureaucratic procedures, education policies, lack of discrimination for people with different political ideologies, support of women in commerce, and a social cohesion package for the island’s vulnerable social groups.
During his lengthy speech, the president also made reference to AKEL and the dissolution of the coalition government, saying that he would not at any point comment on the left-wing party’s decision to back its leader in the 2008 elections.
In 2003 Papadopoulos was elected with the support of AKEL, DIKO and EDEK. The coalition was dissolved when AKEL withdrew from the government, following the party’s unprecedented decision to run for the presidency with its own candidate.
The president became repetitive during the last five minutes of his speech, as he called on the public to put their faith in him once again, making constant reference to the Cyprus problem.
Knowing his strengths and weaknesses, and how his primary goal was to achieve a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, he said he would strive to achieve this goal while continuing to improve the country’s social policies.
“I trust in your judgement and love for Cyprus,” he concluded.
Papadopoulos is the fourth candidate to announce his wish to run for the presidency next February.
The other three include House President and AKEL leader Demetris Christofias, DISY MEP Ioannis Kasoulides, and former agriculture minister Costas Themistocleous.
Three parties have already declared their decision to back Papadopoulos including DIKO, EDEK and EVROKO.
