President Nikos Christodoulides has delayed a highly anticipated cabinet reshuffle to finalise key positions, following a day of intense speculation and unconfirmed leaks over new ministerial appointments.
Although the government made no official announcement on the timing, officials did not deny widespread media reports, mounting pressure on the president and the figures tipped for removal. The delay suggests internal difficulties within the government in executing the new cabinet line-up.
Presidential sources indicate that the main obstacle remains the Deputy Ministry of Tourism. Costas Koumis is expected to leave his post, but his replacement is not yet finalised. Reports circulated that Christos Angelides, the general manager of the Cyprus Hotel Association (PASYXE) and former DISY European Parliament candidate, was under consideration, though neither the presidency nor his associates have confirmed the information.
However, several major portfolio changes have reportedly been locked in. The move aims to strengthen Christodoulides’s ties with centre-right voters and satisfy coalition demands, potentially adding two DIKO members to the council of ministers.
Tina Pavlou, a former DISY parliamentary candidate and member of the party’s government monitoring council, is heavily tipped to take over the Ministry of Health. The leak has reportedly caused unease at DISY headquarters, following reports that Pavlou had previously expressed grievances to party leader Annita Demetriou.
If Pavlou takes Health, Neofytos Charalambides will reportedly move to the Ministry of Transport, replacing Alexis Vafeades.
Further changes include DIKO member Evi Tsolaki taking over the Deputy Ministry of Welfare. This move would shift Klea Papaellina from Welfare to the Deputy Ministry of Culture, replacing Vasiliki Kassianidou.
Additionally, former DIKO MP Christos Senekis is tipped to replace Maria Panagiotou at the Ministry of Agriculture. Panagiotis Palates is expected to become the director of the President’s Office, leaving the position of Citizen’s Commissioner vacant.
The exact timing of the official announcements remains unconfirmed.
