Onasagoras
Churchill described the modern Cypriot political scene rather vividly when he said, "Political opponents are merely people with a different opinion. The real enemies sit on the back benches of your own party.” Sometimes on the front benches too, dear Winston. Good grief, how prophetic you were about today’s DISY. Spot on.
The black spy van—no, not Dilian’s, my own good old-fashioned one—picked up the political leaders’ reactions to Averof’s candidacy. Christodoulides: “He’s determined to get me elected again.” Stefanou: “If he’d called me, we might have worked something out.” Nicolas: “I’ll support him if he supports GSI.” Fidias: “I’ll train him to become a bigger influencer than Annita.” Diplaros? “If he’s not running for DISY president, I couldn’t care less.”
“I’ve decided to make you president again.” — “Thank you.”
Lately, though, I’ve noticed that online trolls sympathetic to our national fox, especially on X, have shifted their fire from Christodoulides to Annita, and their language has been particularly harsh. They accuse her of political incompetence and attack everything she does, from the prayer bracelet on her wrist to her appearances at festivals and events. To them, it’s either politics without politics or populism. It reminded me of Grandma’s old story: “Who put your eye out?” “My brother.” “Ah, that explains why he went in so deep.”
The other day I wrote, jokingly, that if Averof failed to become DISY’s choice, Christodoulides could always appoint him to something. I’m beginning to think my little joke may not have been so funny after all. Let’s hope Foulis behaves more responsibly than his trolls. DISY supporters will not forgive another round of mistakes like those of 2023.
“Are there perhaps two governments in this country?” Nicolas Papadopoulos wondered after his sparring match with Keravnos over GSI. If only there were two, my dear Prince. Some unkind souls often claim this country doesn’t even have one.
When everyone took it for granted that AKEL would back Mavroyiannis’ candidacy, I wrote that it was unlikely. Once again, developments seem to be proving this column right. Mavroyiannis has evidently realized it too and is now trying to force the comrades’ hand early. Unfortunately for him, their support still looks unlikely. AKEL’s leadership is annoyed by his intention to announce a candidacy without waiting for the party’s decision. Off to Siberia, comrades. Off to Siberia.
The president ought to be concerned about the finance minister’s insulting remarks about me, says our national prince. He adds, pointedly, that his party’s choice will determine the winner of the 2028 election. We get the hint. Could he be looking for an excuse to quietly slip away?
A Cypriot citizen, one of our compatriots, was recently executed in China for laundering more than half a billion dollars. Some wags claim he went to school with Lakkotrypis and served in the same battalion as Christou. Others say he may even have been connected to Jho Low and his little adventures in international wrongdoing. Oh, what a coincidence! Rumors that our now-departed compatriot was called Lu Chin and had plans to change his name to Loukas Tsionis are, of course, entirely unfounded.
In tribute, we’ll close with Margaritis. His song ""Synagermos ("Alarm") came out back in 1992, but it could hardly be more timely: a plea to put an alarm on a lover’s kiss and be both its beginning and its end. Over to you.
