Disy backs Anastassiades in dispute with rebels

RULING Disy has given its full backing to its leader Nicos Anastassiades in his dispute with party rebels unhappy over President Clerides’s reshuffle decisions.

The party held an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the ongoing row between Anastassiades and dissident deputies Prodromos Prodromou and Demetris Syllouris.

Prodromou and Syllouris have irked the party leader by publicly expressing concerns that President Clerides had handed too much power to junior government partners the United Democrats (UD). The UD were given two cabinet seats in last month’s reshuffle, which means they now hold four key government positions.

The rebels said they feared giving so much power to the UD was an indication that Clerides was inclining towards the less hardline Cyprus problem approach favoured by UD leader and former President George Vassiliou.

The row over the reshuffle descended into open argument between Anastassiades and the deputies. The Disy leader banished Prodromou from the Disy political office.

Disy issued an announcement yesterday detailing the decisions taken at Wednesday’s big meeting.

Unsurprisingly, the statement made plain that Clerides was not veering from the hardline Cyprus problem line that he promised during his election campaign.

The party also called on all members to respect party regulations and the party leader — a direct reference to the outspokenness of rebels Prodromou and Syllouris.

Expressing personal opinions was fine, but this should be done while respecting party and democratic principles, Disy added.

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