President Nikos Christodoulides on Sunday said some of his fiercest critics “have never accepted the Cypriot people’s verdict in the 2023 presidential elections”.

Speaking to newspaper Phileleftheros, he said his government is being “criticised by MPs of all parties”, but that at the same time, “there is support for the government’s actions from MPs of all parties”, before making special reference to his former party Disy.

“There are some who have been critical since day one, and I do not expect them to change their politics or approach, because they have never accepted the Cypriot people’s verdict in the 2023 presidential elections,” he said.

He added, “I even believe that in some cases, this attitude is costing the Cypriot people”.

One example of this, he said, is the delay in the government’s plan to set a maximum price for bottled water.

“It has been discussed for so long, and now I am hearing that it may be voted on in January. It has been before the House commerce committee for six months,” he said.

Asked whether his comment regarding a non-acceptance of the 2023 election result was made in reference to former Disy leader Averof Neophytou, he said, the comment was “not only” about him.

“There are others, including, of course, Averof Neophytou, but Neophytou is only one of 56 MPs,” he said.

Pressed on the matter of Neophytou and the government’s decision, according to Phileleftheros, to “highlight him as your main opponent”, he pushed back.

“I disagree. I said and I repeat that Neophytou is only one of 56 MPs. When he criticises the government, we must respond as we would to any MP who criticises us. It was in this context that we have responded to Neophytou,” he said.

On the issue of his dealings with political parties, he was also asked whether 2025 would be a “difficult” year, given that the political parties will be gearing up for parliamentary elections which will be held in 2026.

“The party political campaign began the day after the 2023 presidential elections, especially on the part of the parties which did not support me,” he said, while also insisting that his government is only interested in “ensuring the continuation of the country’s development” and “creating conditions for prosperity”.

On Disy in particular, he said, “it is clear that its leadership placed the party in opposition. That is completely respected and there is no question about the positions it has taken. In fact, on some issues, Disy’s criticism has been much stronger than that of Akel.”

He was also asked about sacked former auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides, who, since his dismissal, has been posturing in the direction of a potential run for president in 2028, and chose to see the positives in the possibility.

“I am glad that my candidacy, wherein few believed that someone could be elected without the support of the two major parties [Disy and Akel], has generated this interest from many of our compatriots,” he began.

He then said that that comment was “not referring to Michaelides” but made “in general”, and that “any citizen of the Republic has the right to express an interest”.