Onasagoras
Last night, I tuned into a podcast featuring the former President of Cyprus and a Twitter Space (or "X Space") with the former DISY party leader. Oh boy, both were quite the listen.
First, Nicos Anastasiades shared that he’d been laying low to work on two books but didn’t waste time before accusing our current President, young Nikos Christodoulides, of a serious lack of integrity. His grievance? Christodoulides, he claimed, was taking all the credit for projects started by the previous administration while dodging responsibility for any mishaps. “Are we just here to cut ribbons?” he sighed, throwing in a touch of bitterness. Pure irony, wouldn’t you say?
Anastasiades wasn’t holding back on his disdain, saying it was disgraceful for Christodoulides to present previous administration’s achievements as his own. - Anastasiades
Adding to the drama, Anastasiades’ unexpectedly harsh words came just hours after his former protégé, Averof Neophytou, had called him a defector, unworthy to speak of party loyalty. But don't expect Averof to return fire; he’s got plenty on his plate and a barrage of attacks coming his way from all directions. Right now, the only real support he's holding onto is from Annita.
When asked why his administration was often accused of corruption, Anastasiades deflected, pointing to far bigger scandals of the past, like how confiscated munitions ended up in Mari, or how millions in Milosevic's laundered money allegedly arrived in Cyprus neatly tucked in matching black bags—a dig that might well get a rise out of the country’s “crown prince,” (Nikos Papadopoulos) given the clear nod to former President Tassos Papadopoulos.
The “fox of Argaka,” (Averof) meanwhile, didn’t miss a beat last night either, taking a jab at the prince himself. He reminded listeners that DIKO once left a coalition government with DISY over their stance on a bi-zonal federation (BBF) solution, only to now stand solidly behind the Geroskipou native Christodoulides, who holds BBF as his crowning principle. In my village, we call that double standards, double the BBF, double the drama.
Meanwhile, AKEL tried to wash its hands clean on the issue of corruption in football, calling it an "open secret." But let’s not forget this is the same party whose heavy-handed involvement in football once led APOEL members to split off and form their own team in 1948. Years later, that team, in turn, split to form another named “May 29”—ironic, given it has no connection to the fall of Constantinople.
As the recently revamped party that oversaw the “golden years” of Omonia, AKEL is in no position to point fingers about corruption in football. They turned a blind eye to shady games by the Cyprus Football Association as long as it benefited “the people's team” and their corporate affiliates. In short, those who’ve gained from backroom dealings should hold off on the tears, and those in glass houses ought to be careful with those stones.
And then there’s the Anti-Corruption Authority, which is still pondering whether to call Nicos Anastasiades as a witness in the golden passports scandal. Apparently, since the Council of Ministers made the decisions and Anastasiades didn’t have an actual vote, he’s free and clear! Well, here’s to a merry Christmas, a happy New Year, and this matter also quietly wrapping itself up.
[This article was translated from its Greek original]
