Akel has called for Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou to either resign or be dismissed, citing her inadequate handling of several critical issues including last summer’s wildfires in the Limassol district, ongoing water shortages, and a recent foot and mouth disease outbreak in Larnaca.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
- Akel accused the minister and the government of shifting blame instead of taking accountability, asserting that farmers are now being scapegoated as they face the loss of their livelihoods.
The party has condemned Panayiotou’s approach, stating that the “chain of failures and incompetence in her entire area of responsibility is damaging the country.” They described the Limassol wildfires as “the biggest disaster in the annals of the state” and lamented that no one has taken responsibility for the poor management of the crisis.
As the water crisis deepens, Akel warned that the situation is not improving and imminent water cuts are on the horizon. They expressed concern over the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, claiming it has escalated into a crisis that is having a devastating impact on the livestock industry due to a lack of timely measures.
Akel accused the minister and the government of shifting blame instead of taking accountability, asserting that farmers are now being scapegoated as they face the loss of their livelihoods.
Amidst the backlash, Panayiotou has made public statements asserting that “no one will be left behind” and emphasised a “comprehensive framework of measures to effectively support the affected sectors.” She mentioned her commitment to maintaining close contact with stakeholders and collaborating with scientific experts and European institutions.
On the water shortage issue, Panayiotou has advocated for the installation of additional desalination units, with plans to increase operational units to nine by the end of next month. However, this initiative has not escaped criticism; coastal engineer Xenia Loizidou described it as an “incoherent panic solution.”
During the Limassol wildfires, Panayiotou faced severe criticism for her comments suggesting that the fires could only have been prevented if they had never started, a remark many found insensitive. Furthermore, after a joint session of the House committees on agriculture, environment, and interior, Disy MP Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis accused her and her permanent secretary, Andreas Gregoriou, of misleading parliament.
Rumours circulated that Panayiotou would be removed during an autumn cabinet reshuffle; however, she retained her position when President Nikos Christodoulides made changes in December. Notably, she remains the only cabinet minister from Edek, one of the three parties that supported Christodoulides’ 2023 election campaign, which has caused discontent within her party. Edek leader Nikos Anastasiou expressed disappointment that the party did not receive a second ministry, stating they had expected better recognition from the president.
