The President of the Republic, Mr.Nicos Anastasiades, in his statements to journalists, while attending a lunch, during which he was honoured by the Federation of Employers and Industrialists, and asked to comment on the submission of the candidacies for the presidency of the Democratic Rally, said that: "first, I want to express my appreciation to the President of the Democratic Rally, Averof Neophytou, who, rising to the occasion and for the good of the party, showed his leadership skills, allowing the renewal of the party with two new members. I am glad because the President of the Parliament, Mrs Anita Demetriou, an up-and-coming and by all accounts accomplished politician, is also giving a signal, as is Dimitris Demetriou, of the effort to embark on a new course. A new course that will have nothing to do with anything that has probably hurt the people of Synagerimos in the past. By what I say I do not mean in any way and I do not imply responsibilities of the President of the party, the President of the party to date, Averof Neophytou, whom I want to thank warmly for his contribution to the ten-year course of governing the country."
In response to a reporter's question whether he had talks with those involved and whether he was asked to give some advice as a veteran politician, the President said that: "there were some consultations, but that was always not towards specific candidates, but towards the goal of how to reunite, how to rebuild and how to play the role that the Democratic Rally was promised from the beginning and has played to date."
Finally, asked if the 100 signatures of people supporting Ms. Anita Demetriou included his own, the President replied, "no, of course, I am not and will never be involved in internal party elections. This is a tradition, since I have been either a youth leader or a party leader or in the various offices I have served, not to interfere in internal party elections. For me they were all dear colleagues and not 'mine and others'."
(BO/NG)
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