Onasagoras
When I was a kid, I read Böll’s The Clown’s Opinions. It stuck with me, but not nearly as much as yesterday’s proclamation from our own local clown, Fidias Panayiotou. His “opinions,” if you can call them that, aren’t famous; some even say they don’t exist, just posts carefully optimized for the algorithm.
In a political circus that sometimes really is a circus, we always knew there’d be a clown. Coming soon: at a circus...and a parliament...near you.
“Nobody likes a clown at midnight.” — Stephen King
Former MP Andreas Themistokleous compared ELAM to a gang. Heavy accusation, yes, but he insists there’s evidence. I can’t say how gang-like ELAM really is, but it’s increasingly looking like a more “systemic” party than the rest, the only difference being it’s less than democratic when it comes to decisions. “Too much democracy is harmful” is apparently a party motto.
According to Themistokleous, ELAM’s catchphrase...often repeated by Christou...is:
“Here, whatever I decide, goes!”
Move over, Sun King and Napoleon, we may have just found the new Makarios.
Now, about the Gaza projects Cyprus volunteered for… Naturally, they raise questions. Who could object? Foreign currency, theoretically, will flow into Cyprus. But let’s be honest: since the Republic’s birth, we’ve never finished a major project, roads, marinas, infrastructure, without delays, cost overruns, and scandals. Let’s hope we don’t export this tradition to Gaza. If we do, the passport fiasco will look like child’s play, and our already battered international image will need a lot of… gauze.
Meanwhile, Erdoğan announces the second-largest rare-earth deposit in Turkey and vows to become one of the world’s top five producers. Ah, so that explains Trump’s crush on him. The Turkish opposition claims Erdoğan has already offered part of the deposit to the U.S. for international recognition. Say what?
No wonder the American president showers Erdoğan and Turkey with compliments. Poor Cyprus, our neighbor isn’t just aggressive and ruthless; it’s growing economically and geopolitically stronger, and suddenly Europe and America can’t get enough of it. Ah, my little Cyprus, your struggle is a tough one. Sometimes even the longest battles end… not happily.
Finally, the former Metropolitan of Paphos, Tychikos, appears before the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. Let’s see what fate awaits him. Optimistic, naturally, just like his opponents. We shall see.
*This op-ed was translated from its Greek original
