DIKO parliamentary spokesman Panicos Leonidou will ask to meet President Nikos Christodoulides when he returns from New York, in a bid to defuse the crisis between party leader Nikolas Papadopoulos and Finance Minister Makis Keravnos. The latest clash between them is over the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) electricity link.
Leonidou wants to bring Papadopoulos and Keravnos to the same table as Christodoulides, so they can discuss the issue and settle any differences without clashing in public. He expressed regret over the Finance Minister’s statements but is trying to calm tensions.
Speaking to Philenews, Leonidou repeated his intention to act as a bridge between the two sides, which he had also raised on CyBC radio on Wednesday morning. The issue must be resolved for the good of the country, he said, pointing out that DIKO supports the government.
At the same time, he said questions about the presidential elections would be examined by the party’s collective bodies at the right time, and that those in a hurry would have to be patient.
The remark appeared aimed not only at Keravnos’s statement that he would back Christodoulides if he stands, but also at recent statements by Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides and, before that, Energy Minister Michalis Damianos.
Earlier on Wednesday, DIKO Secretary-General Giorgos Solomou sharply criticised Keravnos, voiced the party’s disappointment at what the minister said on Tuesday and called on him to retract his remarks. Solomou told Philenews that Keravnos should be especially careful in what he says publicly. Asked about the possibility of Keravnos being removed from the Finance Ministry, he said the matter should be discussed with the President.
