AKEL proposes Christofias for Cyprus president – will coalition split?

The political office of the communist AKEL party of Cyprus, will propose to its Central Committee the candidacy of its own General Secretary and House president, Demetris Christofias, for the forthcoming presidential elections next February.

The decision is expected to cause a further rift in the ruling coalition of which AKEL is the biggest member, following the recent cooling of relations between the incumbent President Tassos Papadopoulos’ Democratic Party (DIKO) and the smaller socialist democratic EDEK.

This rift could also cause AKEL ministers to withdraw from the coalition cabinet, if Papadopoulos also decides to run for re-election.
The AKEL Central Committee will convene on Wednesday, July 4, but the final decision will be taken by the all-island Party Congress on July 8.

AKEL spokesman Andros Kyprianou said Friday that 77% of the party base favoured Christofias’ candidacy and proposed this candidacy to their coalition partners. A little less than 19% favored the continuation of the existing parties’ cooperation under Paapdopoulos, while abstentions totalled less than 4%.

President Papadopoulos is expected to announce his bid for re-election after AKEL announces its final decision.
The socialist EDEK has already said it would back Papadopoulos, as did DIKO.
On June 13, Cypriot Member of the European Parliament for the opposition DISY and the European Popular Party, Ioannis Kasoulides announced he would run for president in the upcoming elections.
Kasoulides served as Foreign Minister and Government Spokesman between 1997-2003 in Glafcos Clerides’ government.
The first to announce his candidacy was Costas Themistocleous, former Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment.