Cypriot president out of hospital after surgery

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades was said to be doing well Saturday after being discharged from the hospital, where he underwent spinal surgery ahead of an imminent Cabinet reshuffle.

According to government spokesperson Kyriacos Koushos, the President was said to be in good condition after being discharged on Saturday morning. He had spent the night in hospital for observation following a “minor spinal surgery.”

On Friday, a statement attributed to Koushos said the operation was successful and that the doctors were satisfied with the president’s health condition.

During an unveiling ceremony on Thursday, Anastasiades had casually mentioned the procedure while responding to reporters about an imminent Cabinet reshuffle.

The President was asked about possible Cabinet picks but said he needed more time, while saying he had nothing to add further on the resignation of outgoing Justice Minister Emily Yiolitis except to thank her for her work.

Yiolitis, a Limassol-based high-powered corporate lawyer by profession, wrote her resignation letter to the President to follow up on a phone call when she sought clarification about reshuffling rumors. She told her boss she felt “deeply insulted” when Anastasiades said the minister was “badly affecting” his image and that of the government.

But while surgery came days ahead of a critical week for the administration, news about the medical procedure also did not come without criticism.

Victoras Papadopoulos, director of the press office of the President, pushed back on criticism Friday morning after a state radio host inquired as to why nothing had been announced officially about the head of state’s medical procedure.

Papadopoulos explained the surgery was a minor procedure, adding that an initial statement was going to be prepared but reporters beat them to it.

It was not clear whether and for how long the president might have been incapacitated before or after surgery.

Current protocol dictates that House Speaker Annita Demetriou, the first woman ever to have been elected by her peers to preside over the parliament of the Republic of Cyprus, would serve as Acting President during any period of time the president might be unable to perform his duties.

Story has been updated