Akel general secretary Stefanos Stefanou on Monday rebutted claims that their candidate for president Andreas Mavroyiannis was a lackey of the Anastasiades government, stressing Mavroyiannis’ work under various presidents as a career diplomat.

“Mavroyiannis was a foreign ministry diplomat who was appointed by President [Nicos] Anastasiades as a negotiator. He is not the one taking decisions or handling the Cyprus problem, that is the job of the Republic’s president,” Stefanou said.

“If he is held to be a part of the Anastasiades government and Disy then he should be held as part of the [Demetris] Christofias government and Akel as well, for he served under his government as a deputy minister to the president for European Affairs,” he added.

The election race this weekend was branded as having turned into a race between Disy candidates with the party leader Averoff Neophytou standing, former foreign minister Nikos Christodoulides widely expected to and now Mavroyiannis getting Akel backing.

Speaking to Alpha, Stefanou also praised Mavroyiannis’ successful civil service and contribution towards the country.

On Sunday Akel’s central committee decided to propose former chief negotiator Mavroyiannis to its member base as it’s presidential candidate for the upcoming 2023 elections. After a two-day plenary session and a secret ballot, the 98 central committee members in attendance voted 60 per cent for (52 votes) and 46 per cent (37 votes) against Mavroyiannis.

Reacting to Akel’s decision on Sunday evening Mavroyiannis expressed his gratitude.

“I am honoured and moved by Akel’s central committee to propose me as a presidential candidate to its member base,” Mavroyiannis said.

Although he has yet to officially declare his candidacy, he assured of his readiness to “struggle towards elevating the country and building the Cyprus we all envision, for us and our children” once all decisions are finalised.

Meanwhile presidential candidate Marios Iliades said Akel’s decision was a blow to efforts to find the maximum possible cooperation among opposition forces in the election.

Further prodding at Akel, Iliades also said that “this is not a matter of personality, but a matter of how the issue is being handled in general.”