Christodoulides welcomes new cabinet members and outlines government priorities

Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides welcomed new cabinet members, commissioners and other appointees after their swearing-in on Thursday, saying they would join the government’s mission to serve the Cypriot people.

He also praised outgoing ministers and said he was confident the new appointees would work “tirelessly, methodically, and effectively” to implement the government’s programme.

Government priorities

Christodoulides said the government’s programme is founded on social liberalism and serves five basic priorities.

These include strong defence and security, a dynamic and outward-looking foreign policy with a European and western orientation, a strong and resilient economy, modernisation of the state through continuous reforms, and transparency, accountability and combating corruption.

He said the fifth priority is improving people’s everyday lives through continued investments, while adding that resolving the Cyprus problem remains the government’s foremost priority.

Government record and economy

The president said the day was not intended to evaluate the government’s work, but expressed satisfaction that projects and policies promised to voters had been implemented, were being implemented or were being launched during the government’s three and a half years in office.

He said Cyprus’ economy was recording strong performances despite challenges faced by other countries.

Christodoulides said the government’s fiscal policy had enabled interventions for households, workers, businesses and the wider population, as well as continued investment in health, education, housing and social welfare.

Reforms

He referred to the tax reform implemented at the beginning of the year, the new special needs education model announced earlier in the week, and planned pension system reforms.

Christodoulides said these policies demonstrated the government’s political will to change the country.