Galanos says Diko has lost touch with rank and file

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Alexis Galanos said yesterday there was a rift between the governing body of Diko and its rank and file supporters.

Galanos told a news conference he had decided to stand as a Diko candidate in next month’s presidential elections after “serious dialogue and a feeling of responsibility towards the role of Diko and its future”.

Dismissing Diko leader Spyros Kyprianou’s criticisms of him, Galanos said such tactics were an attempt to “keep support from a large proportion of Diko who do not agree with Mr Kyprianou”, who is backing George Iacovou.

Diko has joined forces with left-wing Akel in backing Iacovou, who is described as an independent candidate.

“I believe there is a rift between today’s leadership (of Diko) and ordinary people,” said Galanos, adding that Diko supporters had wanted the party to forge an independent course with its own candidate.

He replied to Kyprianou’s accusation that his candidacy constituted a “second for Disy” by saying he was the “first candidate of Diko”.

Pointing out his certainty that there would be a second round of voting on February 15, he said Kyprianou and the current Diko leadership had steered the party away from its decisive role as a member of the opposition.

Galanos also pointed out that abandoning the Disy-Diko governing coalition had “not been justified by convincing arguments”.

He called on Diko supporters “not to surrender their vote… to any interests”, and said the deciding role in the election would now be played by himself, the socialist party Edek, the United Democrats and possibly the New Horizons party.

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