Former justice minister Emily Yiolitis shares political views and details on her resignation

In a recent podcast appearance with MEP Fidias Panayiotou, former Justice Minister Emily Yiolitis discussed the reasons behind her resignation from the Anastasiades government. Yiolitis claimed she lacked presidential support, stating that former President Nicos Anastasiades told her she was damaging the government's image due to her family ties. She maintained that she entered the cabinet with "clean hands" and lamented the lack of institutional backing during her tenure.

Beyond her resignation, Yiolitis expressed controversial political views regarding the Cyprus issue and national identity. She argued that Cyprus should be completely independent of both Greece and Turkey, stating that she disagrees with the use of the Greek national anthem in Cyprus. She also criticized the legacy of Archbishop Makarios as the nation's first president, suggesting that a religious figure should not lead a state containing both Christian and Muslim communities. Furthermore, she declared she would be willing to vote for a Turkish Cypriot president if they were more competent than a Greek Cypriot candidate, while dismissing the current model of a bizonal, bicommunal federation as an ineffective solution to the island's division.