THE DEMOCRATIC Rally (DISY) and communist AKEL yesterday put on a brave face despite sustaining losses in Sunday’s elections.
The main opposition party lost one seat in parliament and almost four per cent of the popular vote, compared to the 2001 legislative elections.
But DISY chief Nicos Anastassiades remained defiant, stopping short of presenting the outcome as a triumph, saying his party held its own in extremely unfavourable conditions.
“Despite the unparalleled polemic we have suffered in the last three years… and in spite of the attempt by some quarters to foment division… we have stood our ground,” he said yesterday.
“No one feels that our party’s influence, power or credibility has decreased in any way.”
AKEL leader Demetris Christofias adopted a defensive stance, insisting the damage to the party was exaggerated.
“The losses from the referendum are actually very small, because AKEL supporters are always in dialogue with their party and always reach an understanding.
“We know the reasons for this fall [in the ratings]. But it does not reflect the wishful thinking of some. Analyses will show that our supporters did not turn their backs on us because of the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote,” he said.
By contrast, DIKO’s Nicos Cleanthous was visibly satisfied, saying the election results were “a reward” for the “consistent policies of President Tassos Papadopoulos on the Cyprus problem”.
“The party has achieved a significant boost, which of course meets the goal for even higher ratings.”
Meanwhile EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou said the people’s verdict placed a “heavy burden of responsibility” on the socialist party.
“Rest assured that EDEK will honour the people’s trust in it,” he pledged.
Demetris Syllouris of the European Party seemed the most upbeat as journalists clamoured for a comment.
“We have received enough votes and enough seats in parliament. We were certain that the people would back our cause… it’s a slap in the face to all those who derided us.”
Among the losers, the European Democrats’ Prodromos Prodromou described the elections as a victory of the “mechanisms of power” and of President Papadopoulos personally.
And Michalis Papapetrou of the United Democrats, who were left out parliament, said he would be resigning his post at an extraordinary party convention in June.
