The President of EDEK Marinos Sizopoulos stated that he does not reject or accept what he heard on Monday from the President of the Republic, but he will transfer it to the collective bodies of EDEK which will decide. At the same time, he stated that it is difficult for the opposition party to pass to the coalition due to the serious disagreements on many issues.
In statements after the meeting with President Anastasiadis, Mr. Sizopoulos said that he listened with special attention to what the President of the Republic conveyed to him, about his intentions to form a government of wider acceptance with personalities from various ideological backgrounds. and party venues. For EDEK, he said, it is very important, regardless of indirect or direct participation, to continue in Parliament with prudence, moderation and responsibility to contribute as much as possible to creating conditions for substantial and serious reforms, to improve the quality of life, especially of citizens. but also the proper functioning of the state structure.
Mr. Sizopoulos said that these reforms should be made, as they have stressed many times, away from partisan or other expediencies, in order to support the well-meaning interest and statehood of the Republic of Cyprus, which is unfortunately affected abroad and the its reliability. But above all, he added, how the reforms will be able to support the citizens of Cyprus and especially those who come from the vulnerable groups of the population.
"Therefore, in the context of the recovery program that will be allocated about 4 billion euros, it is very important for EDEK how these resources will be distributed, what exactly they will aim at and how much they will be able to create conditions for a stable economic recovery using the traditional sectors. of the economy the primary, the secondary but also new sectors of high technology, so that on the one hand we can achieve a reduction of unemployment, utilization of the scientific potential of our homeland and especially the young scientists who are forced to emigrate abroad today for employment purposes, but "Above all, how to achieve macroeconomic stability that gives a more optimistic future to our country," he said.
Asked about the possible participation of EDEK in the Government, he said that he will convey the views and the note given to him by the President of the Republic to the collective bodies of EDEK, to be informed and they will make their decisions.
Asked if there was a fire survey by the President for specific people from his area, Mr. Sizopoulos answered in the negative, stating that there was no fire survey for specific people. He added that what matters is that EDEK finally clarifies its position and point of view on the issue before proceeding with discussions on specific persons.
In a journalist remark that he does not reject EDEK's participation, Mr. Sizopoulos said that he does not reject and does not accept and that EDEK's collective bodies will take their decisions. He also said that the decision will be made within days.
Asked by what criteria EDEK will operate, Mr. Sizopoulos said that EDEK is the purest opposition party in the Government, both in the Cyprus issue and in matters of internal governance, in the reform of local self-government, in GESY and in other issues in which some opposition parties are essentially, he said, a coalition.
"Above all, for us, what matters is how we will function positively and constructively so that we can strengthen, on the one hand, the statehood of the Republic of Cyprus and the credibility of our country in the European and international arena, but on the other hand, the "How will we be able, through initiatives that will be taken and measures that will be adopted, to support socially and financially the citizens of our country, especially those who come from the vulnerable groups of the population", he said.
He cited as an example the responsible stance taken by EDEK on the issue of voting for the state budget, where, as he noted, it was once again confirmed that what was said about alleged transactions for the voting of the budget and connection with the Presidency of the Parliament, they were ultimately non-existent.
"What was clear was that for the first time an opposition party was able to capitalize on so many benefits for the benefit of the people," he said.
Asked whether it is easy to cross the line and go from the opposition to the coalition, Mr. Sizopoulos said that it is very difficult due to the fact that there are serious disagreements on serious issues, but this does not deprive them of the right to work with constructive synergy for the benefit of Cyprus and its people.