The Million Dollar Question

Is the Annan Plan a good indicator about the percentage of Greek Cypriots that dont want a solution and prefer the WALL? Or maybe there is more balance in the public opinion, and media intimidation was the reason behind the 76%?

This is the question that the Tass Camp needs to answer to themselves. If the first is the case, then they are up for re-election, and they can go and negotiate the two state solution with the blessing of the racist Cyprus public. In the case of the later.... we going for a solution...and things are going to be very interesting!

And just like that... it begun

Today marks the begininng of the real elections. Today Matsakis said what half the population wants to say and they dont have the guts to say it. That this is all about negotiating with the Turks the regognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in return for a bunch of villages, Famagusta, and border. As mentioned before here... this election is all about the wall. Those who want it and those who don't. Lets see how many each side will get.

Kostakis puts it very nicely here

Second Best Solution

Its August 21st and MEGA TV (under contract to support the church line on the "national" issue) proceeded to re-run Ignatiou's masterpiece , "Cyprus 33 years later". Of course appart from including an absolute nonsense section with Tommie Vou, the greatest journalist of Cyprus proceeded to interview the man himself. In this nice little chat in the back terrace of Strakka, Tassos was asked what he thought was going to be the main issue discussed in these elections. He answered the way Panagopoulos planned. That this election is about evaluating judgment. The ability of the candidates at the time of the Annan Plan to guide the people the right way. And thats how Panagopoulos plans to milk the 76%. Kassoulides becomes a very easy target simply because he pushed people to vote yes, on top of being in the "cursed" team that brought us the Annan Plan. As for Christofias... thats where Panagopoulos will need to get dirty. Early releases of the Pitts, Koulias and Sillouris, seem to have the reverse effect, so plan B will follow. Lillikas will have the chance to "bring Tassos 20% of AKEL". But, beyond wishfull thinking, Tassos and his boys are aware, I am sure, that this election is about the wall and the "tzinoi potzoi emeis poda" concept. The second best solution is already used by Tass followers in private conversations, and will soon make its way on TV. It would be very interesting to see Tassos in a debate with Kassoulides answering about his "second best solution". Will he finally come out of the closet? My feeling is that as the numbers will gradually show that Tass will not make it to the second round (because when the Akel and DISY machines start working the numbers will show just that) the Tass camp will have only two options, give up (impossible) or go for an Annan style campaign. Anyone who wants to bring a solution is a traitor and dangerous, and Tassos is brave enough to sacrifice all and accept a second best solution. This is in fact the core of the 8th July "agreement". Sort out the issues of "kalis geitonias" like electricity, sewage, communications etc and finally evolve into two states. This will offer our politicians more many more years of anti turk rhetoric, and Tassos and his camp the moral high ground to stay in power for a long time. The million dollar question is then, will this route be effective enough to get him through to the second round? I dont know man... maybe the Archbishop will get God to help them on this one. Maybe.