Nicosia, Jan. 9 (BNA): Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday that he had submitted his resignation, in an internal power struggle within the conservative right-wing party over their candidate for the presidential elections in 2023.
Christodoulides, appointed in March 2018, has long been seen as harboring presidential ambitions, causing friction within his Democratic Rally party.
On Friday, party leader Averov Nyihito, who is seeking his party’s nomination in the presidential race, urged Christodoulides to clarify his intentions, Reuters reported.
Christodoulides said in a statement that he would be “interested” in next year’s presidential election but was not yet ready to make a final decision.
“I will make an announcement when I make my final decisions,” Christodoulides said.
The Tagammu party will begin the nomination process for its candidate on Monday. Christodoulides’ silence over persistent rumors that he was aspiring to the presidency caused concern within the party ranks that his possible independent bid might be divisive.
Christodoulides said his resignation would take effect on January 11. He said he submitted his resignation to Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades “a few days ago” and it was accepted on January 7.