President’s statements on the economy a provocation
Statement of Georgos Loucaides, AKEL C.C. Press Spokesperson
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 10th February 2015, Nicosia
The President of the Republic in a speech last night reiterated his assertion that the Cyprus economy has turned the page and is on the road to full recovery. This is another statement within the context of Mr. Anastasiades’ position that in Cyprus we are living through a new economic miracle.
It is certainly true that there are some, few in number, who feel that the state of the economy is developing wonderfully and smoothly. We are talking about that small minority who have seen their profits increase by € 500 million in the last years of the crisis.
However for all the other people, that is to say the workers, vulnerable groups of the population, the unemployed, the middle class and small businesses the President’s claim that everything is developing wonderfully and smoothly is in fact a provocation.
It is a provocation for the 80,000 unemployed and for the over 200,000 people below the official poverty line; a provocation for the poor and low-paid workers who live with the insecurity of their dismissal looming, but also for the thousands of our compatriots who have been forced to emigrate; a provocation for our fellow citizens who are still being fed by food banks so that they can have just enough to live.
The President’s statement is a provocation for the vulnerable groups of the population who have seen their benefits curbed and are at the limit of survival.
However, this is also a provocation for the middle class which is impoverished, but also for the SME’s that are still under enormous pressure, resulting in one after the other closing down.
Once again we reiterate that neither the numbers are prospering in our country but even more so neither people. To change the situation in the economy a turn towards growth is demanded and an end to the anti-social austerity policies, the deregulation of labour relations and the selling off of our national assets.
