2017 Budget inspired by the Memorandum’s philosophy and continues the same austerity policies
Statement by Stefanos Stefanou, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 3rd December 2016, Nicosia
The Central Committee of AKEL, having examined in its session yesterday the the state budget of 2017, decided to vote against it in the House of Representatives. In the assessment of the C.C. of AKEL, the state budget does not meet the needs and challenges of the economy and society.
The Anastasiades – DISY party government instead of investing in sustainable development and supporting the welfare state so as to relieve the vulnerable groups of the population, instead of tidying up the state, is continuing relentlessly its policy in line with the logic of austerity for the majority of the people and preferential treatment for a select privileged few.
The government is celebrating that we have exited the Memorandum, but the budget which is being proposed is inspired by the philosophy of the Memorandum and continuing the same austerity policies. It is these policies that have seen Cyprus record the worst results in Europe with regards income and social inequality and with a large section of its population impoverished.
Regardless of the fact that AKEL will vote against the 2017 budget, during the debate in the House of Representatives it will table proposals for a reduction or deletion of unneeded costs and for a better exercise of parliamentary control.
