The EPP is the only party that has yet to release a timetable ahead of the presidential elections. How will the EPP proceed? What is the plan?
It is a fact that the EPP has not yet engaged in discussions with other parties and candidates regarding the upcoming presidential elections. This does not mean that there are no reflections, or analysis of scenarios that may arise, or planning on how to proceed on the first or even the second Sunday of the elections. Personally, I believe that the fluidity of the scene requires waiting, patience and careful handling, especially when your size as a party does not absolutely determine developments but helps shape them. Therefore, on the basis of the data that will emerge in the near future, the collective bodies will be called upon to take the final decisions in a completely democratic and transparent manner, as they have done in the past.
So far, the pending court cases have not caused any delay in the process, since the EPP usually takes its final decisions in the period between March and May of the year preceding the presidential elections. Therefore, in the event that the Judicial procedures are not completed within a reasonable period of time, then alternative options will be put forward, which have been processed in order to make the final decisions and determine the course of the Party.
In principle you have stated that those candidates who have already determined their programmatic positions will be excluded from your options. Anyone who has not done so is a potential candidate who can be supported by you? Or are there also exclusions based on other criteria, e.g. ELAM?
It is a firm and long-standing position of the EPP that any dialogue for possible cooperation can only be conducted with forces with which there are largely common positions. Any cooperation with either parties or potential candidates should meet certain conditions, such as.
It is logical that the EPP will not enter into cooperation simply to ratify predetermined decisions. Any party or even candidate interested in cooperation with the EPP should exchange views with the party leadership before announcing the programme or candidacy. Of course, there is pre-exclusion of parties and candidates due to positions and ideological positioning.
Is autonomous descent a possible option? A pure proposition, if we may use the term.
Autonomous descent is a pure option that cannot be ruled out. But evaluating the data, as with any option, autonomous descent has advantages and disadvantages, it has positives and negatives. Therefore, all the data, of all the options, should be carefully analysed before the final decision is made. Unfortunately, there is no option that has only advantages.
The effort for cooperation between the parties of the so-called middle ground remains as a goal or do you think that there are no longer such reasons?
The results of the last parliamentary elections have significantly reduced the prospects for such a prospect. The fragmentation of the space makes it very difficult for the possibility of coming together and thus ensuring electoral success. This fact leads the forces positioned in this area to determine their choices on the basis of what they consider to be the success of the realization of the party goal set, in order to ensure the further perspective.
What is in the opinion of the EDEK the stakes of the elections? Political change, as other opposition parties say, or a continuation of the present state of affairs, political and economic stability, which DISY talks about?
The real stake for the EDEK is to make a substantial contribution to achieving real change, focusing on vital areas of governance, such as the Cyprus problem, the economy, social policy, health, and not to change persons or parties in the power bloc. The aim is to adopt and implement a people-centred government policy that improves the standard of living of citizens and reduces inequality between high and low incomes, giving substantial support to vulnerable groups of the population. A careful analysis of the political data leads to the conclusion that some parties positioned in the opposition have had and still have a complete convergence of views, on critical issues, with government policy and DISY, such as the Cyprus problem, the memorandum, the haircut of deposits, the divestments, the non-adoption of the special division in the District Courts for borrowers to appeal, the cover-up of bankers' arbitrariness against citizens, the deregulation and not the substantial reform of the Public Service and Local Government, etc.ά. On the basis of these facts, how can they be characterized as opposition parties.
Undoubtedly, the Cyprus problem will be at the core of the discussions and convergences. Undoubtedly the Cyprus problem is the key issue of our priorities. Convergence on key aspects of the problem will clearly facilitate cooperation. However, the current circumstances call for an enrichment of the agenda. It is not possible to ignore the issues already mentioned, the economy, health, social policy.
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