By Elias Hazou
PRESIDENT Tassos Papadopoulos has triggered a new bout of election bickering after branding AKEL as eurosceptics.
Speaking to a gathering of women’s support groups at Nicosia’s International Conference Centre over the weekend, the incumbent cast a shadow on the communist party’s ability to lead the country into a new era.
“The future of Cyprus, its prosperity and national security, lies in Europe. It is not possible for Cyprus to play its part within the EU scquis if the person who leads has doubts about the usefulness of Europe, has doubts on whether or not we should join the eurozone, or believes we should have postponed the adoption of the euro,” Papadopoulos said, in a clear dig at AKEL chief Demetris Christofias.
Yet during the last elections in 2003 – before EU accession – Papadopoulos had dismissed the notion that his main backers AKEL were eurosceptics, citing the fact that Christofias had served as chairman of the House European Affairs Committee and that AKEL had given the thumbs-up in parliament to EU harmonisation laws.
Back in January, AKEL had openly said it wanted to push back adoption of the euro by a year, because that would give the state time and opportunity to implement measures that could prevent adverse effects on the quality of life of the people and on their pockets.
Economists had been against postponement, arguing that it would be damaging to the economy and to the country’s credibility and reputation within the EU.
Speaking over the weekend, Papadopoulos shot down criticism that adopting the single currency was done at the expense of slashing public spending.
“We have managed to achieve the conversion programme as well as double social benefits. We shall not sacrifice the social state or the need for further welfare on altar of the euro,” he said.
To prove his point, Papadopoulos promised a string of benefits if re-elected, including raising pensions and doubling grants for college students.
Hitting back, Christofias accused the President of systematically distorting AKEL’s positions.
“I would have expected more ethos and respect from the President,” he told a gathering in Limassol.
Christofias went to charge Papadopoulos on reneging on his 2003 election manifesto, for example on the issue of extending retirement age.
DISY-backed Ioannis Kasoulides meanwhile seemed to revel in the spat between his two main rivals for the presidency.
“One wonders what has come over messrs Papadopoulos and Christofias so that the knives are out just two days before New Year’s. But what is really astonishing is how the two of them managed to govern together for four-and-a-half years,” Kasoulides noted in a statement.
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Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2007
You can all thank Tpap for making you the outcasts of the EU hahahahahahaaaa!!!
And when the recession hits this year then you can thank him for tying you in to the Euro as well..........
btw I for one don't think much of the EU or its politicians
