A column of Patroclos

"If the pen was ever mightier than the sword ..."

Kyproulla (affectionately ironic nickname for Cyprus) will not send

troops to UkraineKyproulla will not send troops to a European intervention force, which would be used to secure peace in the extremely unlikely event of a ceasefire in Ukraine. This was assured by Deputy Government Spokesman Yiannis Antoniou on Friday morning to the state radio and the news agency from Paris.

The fact that he was asked such a "stupid question" is due to the president himself, who had signaled Kyproulla's willingness to be part of a force to ensure peace and security in Ukraine the day before at the conference of the "coalition of the willing" in Paris.

The president apparently let himself be carried away in the round of the "big boys" in Paris and did not deny that Kyproulla would send troops when asked. In fact, at the previous operational meeting, the head of the National Guard said that they were ready to "contribute to this operation," as the president stressed.

Although the National Guard does not have enough soldiers to secure its own demarcation line, the president said it was ready to send troops to Ukraine – forcing the spokesman to make a clear denial the next day.

"Of course, the Republic of Cyprus has no intention of providing troops under any circumstances," the spokesman said.

Only the AKEL party – humorless as usual – took the president's statements seriously and demanded in a statement: "Is Mr. Christodoulides ready to send Cypriot soldiers to Ukraine?" and demanded "an answer to the Cypriot people".

The real concern of the communists is that Kyproulla will side with the "evil Europeans" against virtuous Russia. "AKEL reiterates that the EU strategy of arming Zelensky until the 'destruction of Russia' and the shift to the 'war economy' are a dead end and dangerous for all peoples of Europe," the party said.

Without naming names, AKEL exceptionally supported Donald Trump's peace initiative – and thus, ironically, the "evil USA". "Only through peace initiatives and a return to diplomacy can a just and lasting peace be achieved," the Trump-friendly communists declared.

Antoniou reassured AKEL and explained that his boss had made a mistake. Kyproulla's contribution "could be at the administrative or humanitarian level, for example through the participation of officers of the National Guard or the police."

The sensitive police work at the protest of the hunters on the highway last Sunday was a complete disaster. Thousands of day-trippers were stranded in traffic jams for hours – to the delight of the hunting protesters.

The dissolution only took place after the president had spoken on the phone with the leader of the hunters and promised a meeting in the presidential palace for Monday. However, in order to save face and not look like a blackmailed person, he did not appear – instead, the Minister of the Interior was allowed to do the dirty work.

The protest with several thousand participants dressed in camouflage clothing was organized by the "United Cypriot Hunters Movement" (KEKK). The "Cypriot Federation for Hunting and Wildlife Management" (KOK & DAZ) was against it – which at least has a better abbreviation.

The police had agreed to the protest – allegedly believing it would only last a few minutes. After the outcry in the public, the police chief ordered an investigation that makes the police look even more incompetent.

None of the major parties dared to publicly oppose the hunters – they stand for many votes. Only Volt and the Greens condemned the protest. DISY MP Nicos Tornaritis was the only one to publicly criticise – he is unlikely to stand for re-election.

Mayor Prountzos of Nicosia, who had complained that he had never had a meeting with the president since his election, now knows what to do: take the city council, all the city administration employees and a few asylum seekers with him, block the Nicosia-Limassol highway – the president will certainly call the next day.

The government is facing harsh criticism because it has transferred five contract soldiers of the National Guard (Syop) to the KYP intelligence service – contrary to their employment conditions. Officially, this was sold as "operational supplies".

However, it smells strongly of nepotism. If KYP needed personnel, there would be thousands of civil servants or police officers who would be more suitable than Syop recruits. The young people who apply for Syop are generally considered "unemployable" – without education, ambition or intelligence.

A transfer to the KYP was only possible by instruction "from the very top" – there was no other way to explain such a personnel decision.

This large-scale nepotism could be the president's recipe for his re-election – as he did in the 1980s under Spy Kyp, who filled the offices with party friends.

Last week, the government introduced a bill to parliament to release 900 frozen civil servant jobs – even though thousands have already been released in the past. During the 

"freeze", thousands were hired on permanent contracts. According to CyStat, there are now 9,500 of these employees – almost like civil servants, only with fewer benefits.

The public sector wage budget, including pensions and bonuses, devoured around 35% of government spending (€3.2 billion) in 2023 – the highest figure in Europe. In 2024, it will rise to over €4 billion – and that's before hiring another 900 "state parasites".

But don't worry: the president said in Larnaca on Saturday that "responsible economic policy" had allowed the government to spend €700 million on aid to households and businesses.

The AKEL party is protesting against inflation – so was the money wasted?

AKEL organized a protest march on Saturday against the high cost of living and for the fact that 30% of the population can no longer make ends meet with their income. Does this mean that the €700 million in government aid was wasted?

The economic emergency is probably the main reason for the president's low poll rating. According to a recent poll, his popularity is only 24%, well below that of Parliament President Annita Demetriou (36%).

The most popular man in Kyproulla is currently Odysseas with 59% – probably also because he is not a politician and does not constantly fly around the world in a private jet and play the great statesman.

We are pleased to announce that the Nicosia-Limassol highway is now passable without protest actions. As a service, we asked the police – no group has been approved for a two-minute motorway closure today.





AKEL is a political party in Cyprus. The full name is:

Ανορθωτικό Κόμμα Εργαζόμενου Λαού (AKEL)
in German: Progressive Party of the Working People

Short info:

AKEL was one of the strongest parties in Cyprus in the past and provided the president, Dimitris Christofias, from 2008 to 2013.

It is now in opposition, but continues to be very influential – especially in protests against social inequality, inflation or privatization.

Source: CyprusMail.com