Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has said the President will proceed with a government reshuffle, following the collapse of the coalition government.
In statements to reporters after the leader of the Democratic Party Marios Garoyian announced Wednesday his party would pull out of the coalition government, citing serious differences on the Cyprus issue, Stephanou expressed the government’s regret.
He said in the next few days, the cabinet will reshuffle.
Stephanou also acknowledged that there was an issue with the Cyprus issue.
In his remarks, Stephanou said that unfortunately, it was not possible to secure an agreement on all issues examined “therefore cooperation on a government level cannot continue”.
He conveyed the President’s regret, noting that at the same time, the “President continues to extend a hand of friendship and common effort to DEKO to handle the challenges and problems that the country is facing, for the good of the country, even without DEKO participating in the government”.
Stephanou said unity, prudence and consensus from all political forces is required at these moments, and the President will continue to work towards this.
The Spokesman also announced that in the next days, the President of the Republic will announce the cabinet’s new composition.
Asked if the aim is the new cabinet to comprise people of broader acceptance from other political forces, Stephanou said that the aim will be the new government to be able to handle more dynamically and effectively the challenges that arise. “The composition of the new cabinet is the President’s choice and will be announced very soon, and everyone will be able to judge the result”.
Stephanou said that the President is already in communication with the ruling left-wing AKEL party since it participates in the government.
He said it is necessary, the requirements are pressing and there is also the issue of the economy where a package of measures is being promoted, while more measures will have to be examined to handle the consequences created after the July 11 fatal naval base blast.
For this reason, the President will meet Thursday afternoon with the union leaderships.
Asked where there was a disagreement, Stephanou cited the Cyprus problem, noting that the withdrawal of the President’s proposals depended on the course of the negotiations, adding that currently, we are in an intensified stage of the talks which is dealing with core issues.
To a remark whether President Christofias, is concerned that he began his term in office with the support of the Social Democrats Movement EDEK and the Democratic Party and the tolerance of the main opposition party Democratic Rally, and is now left with only AKEL’s support, the Spokesman said each party’s decision is respected.
“It is not the first time a government is supported by a single party. What is primarily important at the moment is not to look into why this has happened”. He repeated the President’s position that he will continue efforts for unity, prudence and consensus from all political parties on the fundamental issues to be handled in the best possible way.
Asked if the President feels isolated either on the Cyprus problem or on governance issues, the Spokesman replied in the negative, adding the least amount of unity is necessary on the internal front on fundamental issues. For this reason, there is the National Council to examine the Cyprus problem, and the meetings on the economy, to achieve consensus on important issues.
President of the Democratic Party Marios Garoyian, speaking to reporters after his third meeting in the last few days with President of the Republic Demetris Christopfias said they did not manage to achieve the desired understanding, as there are serious different approaches on the Cyprus issue.
