A deepening rift has opened between President Nikos Christodoulides and his key coalition partner, DIKO leader Nicolas Papadopoulos. The friction centres on the Great Sea Interconnector—the subsea electricity cable linking Cyprus to Greece and the European grid. Despite Papadopoulos’s long-standing support for the project, he has only recently taken his grievances public after a “stern letter” to the President went unanswered.
The Letter That Sparked the Crisis
In mid-December, Papadopoulos sent a formal warning to the Presidential Palace. The letter explicitly criticised the Government’s handling of the interconnector, specifically targeting Finance Minister Makis Keravnos. Papadopoulos warned that the state’s hesitation is sabotaging national interests.
The President’s failure to reply—or even acknowledge the letter via a phone call—triggered what observers call an “oppositional explosion” from the DIKO leader during recent parliamentary and televised appearances.
Papadopoulos’s Warnings: A Looming Disaster
The DIKO leader’s letter outlines a series of catastrophic risks if the project collapses:
–Financial Penalties: While approximately €302 million has already been spent, a cancellation could force Cyprus to pay hundreds of millions in compensation to the French contractor, Nexans, for loss of revenue and breach of contract.
–Legal Fallout: Papadopoulos warns that Nexans is already cancelling sub-contracts and preparing to shift blame onto the Greek grid operator (ADMIE), who in turn will target the Cypriot government for failing to honour signed agreements.
–Diplomatic Rupture: The letter highlights that the current stance risks a severe breakdown in relations with the Greek government, the European Commission, and France.
–Energy Isolation: Failure to complete the cable ensures Cyprus remains energy-isolated, allowing local “oligopolies” of power producers to continue overcharging consumers.
Internal Government Sabotage?
Papadopoulos directly accused Finance Minister Makis Keravnos of undermining the project. Keravnos has repeatedly questioned the cable’s viability and refused to release the agreed-upon €25 million annual funding, despite a Cabinet-approved Memorandum of Understanding.
The DIKO leader dismissed the Ministry’s demand for “updated studies,” citing EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen’s statement that existing studies are sufficient.
The Ultimatum
In his letter, Papadopoulos requested an emergency meeting with the President and the Ministers of Finance and Energy to resolve the deadlock. He warned that if the meeting was not granted, he would take his dissent public—a threat he has now carried out.