Onasagoras
Averof Neofytou and Annita Demetriou have crossed swords once again, this time over the proposed undersea cable linking Cyprus to Greece. The "former fox of Argakas" has recently voiced his opposition to the project—aligning with DISY MP Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis—while our beloved influencer, representing DISY's official stance, feels the project must proceed, and decisions should be made as swiftly as possible.
And what about the unshaven young Nikos? Well, as the saying goes, “If you have the beard, you must have the comb,” so it seems he's aware this is a decision he must make quickly without many delays. Meanwhile, the American ambassador in Cyprus publicly supported the project at a Greek forum, remarking that "although there are no American companies involved, opportunities for Cyprus to play the geopolitical game don’t come around often." When my father heard this, he remembered the last time the Americans said something like that was back in 1964 with the Acheson Plan. Hmmm.
Everything is expected to be clarified within the week. Let's hope the blessed day comes soon when our electricity bill doesn’t give us a series of heart attacks.
The “former fox” (Averof) was clear: let’s stick to expensive electricity from the new Chrysochou plant and Zorpas' solar panels until the Cyprus problem is resolved. He also asked Greece, in his exquisite Oxford diplomatic language, to “take on the geopolitical risk,” essentially suggesting they go to war with Turkey if it intervenes in the cable installation. Meanwhile, Hadjiyiannis, the populist MP from Famagusta, chimed in with “It’s time to cut the umbilical cord with Greece.” Does that make sense to anyone?
Everything is expected to be clarified within the week. Let's hope the blessed day comes soon when our electricity bill doesn’t give us a series of heart attacks. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and a reduction in electricity prices—amen.
The Audit Office has reacted strongly to the government’s intention to push forward with reforms, but many found young Nikos' response reasonable, saying that the state cannot operate in 2024 as it did in 1960.
Of course, President, there are many mechanisms and mentalities in this country that are stuck in 1960—if not 1821—but let’s start somewhere. Step by step.
The Prince (Papadopoulos), along with other members of the "Crown" like Chrysis (a golden boy otherwise), maintain reservations about the reforms, subtly supporting the Audit Office. So, this week, we have a double beef: Annita vs. Averof and the young unshaven vs. the national prince. Let’s hope it turns out well for us.
We also saw the lists of parliamentary party advisers. Some salaries caught our attention, particularly the fact that AKEL’s advisors generally have higher salaries than those of other parties. It turns out communism has its perks—after all, we are all equal, but some are more equal than others.
Two new political parties are currently in gestation, expected to be born around Christmas. One will be led by Christoforos Tornaritis, who has been trying for months to translate “Never Surrender” into Greek. The other, shrouded in more secrecy than the Filiki Eteria, will lean toward the modern Left (whatever that means), even without a Cypriot Tsipras or Kasselakis. Then again, if Kasselakis gets kicked out of Greece, perhaps the Cypriot version of SYRIZA will import him.
At AKEL, through their slightly dormant vigilance, they discreetly monitor the developments. "In the good old days, we’d have sent them to Siberia," an AKEL friend told me with nostalgia. "There’s a harsher punishment now," I replied. "Send them to EDEK."
