Govt calls Disy ‘petty’, party hits back in war of words

The government and Disy engaged in a renewed spat on Wednesday over education ministry proposals put forth by party leader Annita Demetriou, which quickly deteriorated into a back-and-forth.

By evening, Disy accused the education ministry of trying to silence the party and called on it to tolerate a difference in opinion.

The exchange was prompted by a press conference by Demetriou in which she presented 12 suggestions for the education sector, as the new school year kicked into gear.

It prompted a response from the education ministry which expressed its “surprise that the party which ruled the country for 10 years, is now telling the government how to deal with matters of education.

“Citizens are justified to question why these recommendations were not implemented in that entire decade.”

The education ministry also claimed that some of Demetriou’s proposals were part of President Nikos Christodoulides’ government programme, and some of the suggestions are already being implemented.

While it specified it is willing to cooperate “we feel the need to specify that matters of education should stay away from petty political interests and party agendas.”

Disy’s spokesman and MP Onoufrios Koullas hit back saying “the government’s limited tolerance to well-meaning criticism suggestions does not surprise us at all.”

But an attempt to gag Disy by referencing the past is not something the party will accept, he said.

“The education ministry should teach tolerance of opinions as a basic principle of democratic culture.”

He added Disy demands respect “for the party that kept the economy going strong” through multiple crises that has enabled new policies to now come into effect.

“We will not compromise with the mediocrity with which the government seems to satisfy itself with,” nor with the “relaxed and carefree pace with which it moves forward. We will set the bar higher.”

Disy and the government have long been at loggerheads, with the state openly conveying its annoyance to Demetriou in July.

At the time, Demetriou wrote a letter to Christodoulides warning that the international community is inching closer towards giving up on hopes of solving the Cyprus problem.

She cautioned that clashes with UN officials “and casting doubts over the objectivity of the UNSG reports” serves no purpose and undermines the Greek Cypriot side.

The government called her letter bad timing, and said it had revealed confidential information, while accusing Demetriou of not voicing any of those thoughts during the National Council meeting – which is a meeting of party leaders.

In October, the government also moved to deny accusations that Christodoulides does not respect the collective bodies of opposition party Disy, which he was kicked out of after much bickering in the lead up to the 2023 presidential elections.