The 11 ministers put their resignations at the disposal of the president ahead of an expected reshuffle following DIKO’s departure from the coalition government. Anastasiades did not say what his next move would be. “I will decide what to do in 15 days,” he told reporters outside the presidential palace. Government spokesman Christos Stylianides said that the president had asked the ministers to remain in office because of various pending issues. Anastasiades will also be away — travelling to Ireland next week — the spokesman said.

DIKO abandoned the government over disagreements with the president’s handling of the Cyprus problem. Chairman Nicolas Papadopoulos had asked the four ministers belonging to his party to resign immediately. One of the four, Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis, stressed that what was important was the country’s stability. “… either with DIKO in the government or not, the administration must proceed with the difficult task it has assumed and take the country out of the deadlock.”

Reports suggested that Lakkotrypis will announce that he was quitting DIKO. Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said he was duty-bound, in light of developments, especially as regards the Cyprus problem, to remain at the side of the president, if he was offered the ministry again on March 15.

Source: Cyprus Mail