Onasagoras
Andreas Papacharalambous, former mayor of Strovolos and a close friend of the President, Nikos even introduced his book presentation recently, announced his candidacy on Thursday … drums and suspenseful music, please… under ELAM. If I said this development was unexpected, I’d be lying, blatantly. But someone bring me a cloud to fall on, so I can feign surprise.
This move certainly caught Christodoulides off guard (ΝΟΤ!), as it strengthens the unofficially co-governing, and increasingly mainstream, ELAM, now boasting Pelekanos, Hampoulas, and Papacharalambous as its attacking trio. Rumor mills, those malicious little things, claim the next recruit might be Diplaros, but I assure you, that’s nonsense. The ever-likable Efthymios will remain loyal to Annita, to the little angel of Victory in the logo, and to the slogan: “More honorable than mother, father, and all other ancestors is DISY.”
The Deputy Government Spokesperson recently commented on the GSI project, saying: “It’s difficult to force citizens to pay for a project that isn’t happening.” Fair enough. But then came the unforgettable follow-up: “…the €25 million won’t come from the people because it will come from public funds.” Someone should tell him the great secret: public funds are, in fact, the people’s money.
Charley Kirk, the young man murdered in the U.S. just three days ago, was known for his conservative views, his unwavering support of Trump, and his staunch opposition to parts of the so-called Woke Agenda, especially abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. Some labeled him far-right, and many Democrats in the House refused to join a prayer in his honor, which descended into chaos with shouting and insults, another marker of the extreme polarization now dividing Americans who were once moderate.
Agree with him or not, killing someone for their beliefs is cowardly, vile, and utterly indefensible. Trump has posted a highly charged video blaming the Radical Left as the moral instigators of the murder. Let’s hope Cyprus never sees a repeat, as we experienced similar turmoil in the 1960s and 70s, with painfully familiar results. And let’s not forget that famous principle: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
A small note of clarification: though often attributed to Voltaire, the phrase actually comes from British writer Evelyn Hall in her book Friends of Voltaire. She used it to summarize the ideas of the great French philosopher, inadvertently creating the widespread misconception that he had said it himself.
Finally, wishing you a good weekend and a bit of patience. Things could always be worse, I think. We’ll talk again, with the usual optimism that (once) defined this column in the printed Sunday Kathimerini.
