DIKO's Papadopoulos backs GSI, warns monopolies will fight it
DIKO president Nicolas Papadopoulos said the Great Sea Interconnector would cut electricity bills by around 30% and accused its opponents of protecting energy monopolies.
DIKO president Nicolas Papadopoulos used an appearance on the "Protoselido" programme to set out his party's positions on the 2028 presidential race, cooperation among centrist parties, pension reform and the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), as reported by Cypriot media.
On the presidential election, Papadopoulos said DIKO has already begun its internal procedures and district conferences, with dialogue expected to run until the end of the year. Final decisions are likely "at the end of this year or the start of next", he said, adding that all options remain open — including backing the President of the Republic or cooperating with other parties. Asked about President Nikos Christodoulides' intentions, he replied that all indications suggest the President plans to seek re-election, but that the announcement must come from Christodoulides himself.
Government cooperation and the centrist space
Papadopoulos said coordination with the government "could be better", noting that DIKO is the only parliamentary party still in the administration. Pre-consultation and communication should improve, he said, though he described the government's overall record as positive despite mistakes.
He called cooperation among centrist parties "necessary" for the country, saying many voters outside the extremes want such a space. He said he has already met the leaderships of DIPA, EDEK and the Greens, and that a cooperation agreement with the Democratic Front will focus on joint study groups producing common policy proposals. A meeting with the EDEK president is expected in the coming days.
On the appointment of Nikos Tornaritis, Papadopoulos said the President has the right to appoint advisers, especially on the Cyprus issue, and wished him success, citing his parliamentary experience and international contacts.
Pensions and GSI
On pension reform, Papadopoulos backed modernising the system but questioned how higher pensions would be funded without raising contributions or the retirement age. He repeated DIKO's proposal to channel revenues, or part of them, from natural gas into an investment fund whose returns would help finance pensions, arguing that both sustainability and decent pensions matter, especially for low earners.
Turning to the GSI, he said the electricity link would improve energy security and lower costs. He claimed electricity in Greece has been on average 0.08 euros per kilowatt-hour cheaper, around 30% below Cypriot prices, and said the project's biggest benefit would be creating competition in the power market. He accused opponents of the project of protecting monopolies and oligopolies, saying they have been fiercely against it from the start, and insisted the only real obstacle is Turkey — while expressing optimism that the project will ultimately go ahead.
What it means for residents
For households and businesses, the most tangible promise in this debate is cheaper electricity. If the interconnector is built and the market becomes more competitive, bills could eventually fall; if it stalls, Cypriot consumers stay exposed to some of the EU's highest power prices. Politically, the comments signal that DIKO intends to be a decisive player in the next presidential race, so voters should watch how centrist cooperation develops.
- Watch your electricity bill, not just the headlines. Any price relief depends on the cable being completed and on real competition in the retail market.
- Follow the pension debate closely. Higher pensions without higher contributions or a later retirement age will require another funding source — likely gas revenues.
- Expect more political movement. DIKO's talks with centrist parties could reshape alliances well before the next presidential election.
info.cy editorial team. This note was prepared with the help of AI.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
