Apostolos Kouroupakis
In the recent Cabinet reshuffle, which tested both the patience of sensible citizens and the endurance of journalists, President Nikos Christodoulides also changed the leadership of two deputy ministries: Social Welfare and Culture.
Two supposedly “minor” deputy ministries, I should add, because that appears to be how Christodoulides himself treats them. How else can one explain the President’s eagerness to interfere with both?
I can accept that Vasiliki Kassianidou had reached the end of her term and offered all she had to offer. I can also accept that the tensions, whether open or behind the scenes, between her and the ministry’s director-general, Giorgos Papageorgiou, made it difficult for her to remain at the offices on Ifigenias Street.
But why was Clea Papaellina not given more time to work at the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare?
The President clearly values her; otherwise, he would not have moved her elsewhere. So what purpose did changing the leadership of such an important state institution serve, at least as far as this column is concerned?
Was it petty party politics, Byzantine-style scheming of the worst kind, or the behavior of a despotic monarchy? Because it certainly does not look like genuine concern for the work of these two deputy ministries.
Unless the truth lies in the explanation given by the director of the President’s Press Office, Victor Papadopoulos. More specifically, in his statement, the people selected were those who “supported the President’s effort from the beginning and believe in carrying out his program."
In other words, a naked quid pro quo, and a deeply ugly one at that.
Of course, I cannot yet judge the new deputy ministers because neither has had enough time to show what she can do. Clea Papaellina did not have time to achieve much at Social Welfare, while Tina Pavlou became, politically speaking, something of an Ibsen character overnight.
Only time will show what mark they leave on their new portfolios. I do not hold out much hope, not because I question their abilities, but because there simply is not enough time.
Christodoulides was categorical when addressing the new appointees: “You are taking over your portfolios with no grace period and are expected to adapt immediately to a particularly demanding environment.”
The statement is almost comical. Both women are stepping into positions burdened with serious and urgent problems, but they are being told they have no time.
They must resolve every outstanding issue within a year and a half, or at least put matters on the right track. Before they can do that, however, they will first have to find the tracks and then locate the train.
Pavlou, for example, must move forward with the restructuring of the Social Welfare Services. That process has been under way since 2019, seven years ago.
Because of Christodoulides’ unfortunate choices at this deputy ministry, see Marilena Evangelou’s term as deputy welfare minister, everything has been left to chance.
This is happening while society faces thousands of problems and while individuals and families are barely holding together, unable even to hope for some kind of resurrection.
At the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and the Social Welfare Services, they seem to believe that benefits alone can solve every problem.
And because Christodoulides apparently decided that the deputy ministry had no major unfinished business, he moved Papaellina from Social Welfare and appointed her deputy culture minister.
Culture is another deputy ministry facing numerous long-standing problems that appear anything but easy to solve.
The most prominent is the Artist Status bill, which has become like Penelope’s loom — woven and unravelled over and over again, ensuring there is always more work to be done.
And what more can be said about the cultural infrastructure Cyprus still lacks? Once again, we return to the Cyprus Library, the State Gallery, or, as it may otherwise be called, the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Patience, then, and let us wait and see.
Papaellina and Pavlou were expected to adapt yesterday and, by the day after tomorrow, begin dealing with years of dysfunction, intrigue and rival camps within the deputy ministries they have been asked to lead.
Both ministries have such camps, and they are very powerful. Heaven help the two women if they lose their nerve.
It is deeply disappointing that the President decided to play his petty political games with these two deputy ministries, both of which are extremely important.
With serious planning, they could offer society a great deal that is both useful and necessary.
P.S. Has the committee for the State Literature Awards still not been announced because we were waiting for the reshuffle, or because we are trying to find an available Nobel laureate?
