Newsroom
In an exclusive interview, the former President of Cyprus addresses questions about media control, the "Gang" book controversy, and the infamous ''devil'' comment.
In a revealing conversation on the Legal Matters podcast, former President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, spoke candidly about the media climate during his time in office, the controversy surrounding the 2020 book The Gang by journalist Makarios Drushiotis, and the infamous remark he made about "the devil" in relation to Al Jazeera.
Christoforos Christofi, the podcast host and a lawyer, asked Anastasiades directly about the media's apparent avoidance of Drushiotis' book after its publication. The book, which took aim at Anastasiades' administration, was notably ignored by most media outlets, with the exception of a few journalists. The question on many minds was whether the Presidential Office had directed the media not to engage with the book.
Anastasiades was quick to deny any such involvement. "I can’t assess why the media didn’t pay attention to him," the former president said, pointing out that Drushiotis himself had been caught lying and sued several times, which may have led to his work being dismissed by the media. He strongly rejected the suggestion that he had given any directive to avoid the book or its author, calling the idea absurd. "Did I control the press during my presidency?" he asked. "No, I did not."
He further rejected the idea that there was any political pressure on the press, noting that prominent newspapers like Phileleftheros were not under his control. Anastasiades also pointed to a significant political issue from his presidency, recalling the uproar when the opposition party DIKO attempted to block the national budget. He made it clear that his presidency was not about suppressing freedom of the press.
The conversation then shifted to another controversial moment from his presidency – the "devil" remark made in 2020, when Anastasiades allegedly told journalist Stella Michael, "Don't mention Al Jazeera to me; may the devil take you." The line became widely discussed, with many interpreting it as a threat against the press outlet, particularly after it reported critical news about Anastasiades' government.
Anastasiades explained that the comment was made in jest during an event at the Archdiocese, with a smile. He recalled a journalist from Al Jazeera, who was present at the time, as stating that he was simply joking. "I was laughing and speaking to Stella Michael, saying, ‘may the devil take you’—in a joking manner, and it was not said with any malice," he explained.
The former president added that the comment had been deliberately misinterpreted, with some choosing to spread false narratives about it. He also addressed the wider issue of media ethics, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between truth and sensationalism. "I dedicated the book The Sycophant not only to political leaders but also to honest members of the press, those who seek the truth rather than spreading fake news or populism," he stated.
While Anastasiades clearly downplayed the significance of the "devil" remark, he also voiced frustration over how it had been twisted by critics. "Would I have said something like that seriously?" he asked. "Of course not. It was a lighthearted remark that was taken out of context."
*With information from 24News
