If there is a force that can make the difference for youth, this is AKEL!
Intervention by Andros Kyprianou, AKEL General Secretary, in a discussion with young people on youth issues
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 7th May 2016, Nicosia
First of all I want to assure the youth of Cyprus that AKEL doesn’t live in its own small world. We know very well that the first thing most young people say in their circles when they may discuss the election campaign is that “they all are the same”, “it’s not worth anyone getting involved” and “I don’t care, I don’t give a damn, I ‘m going to look after my own interest”.
Nobody should judge young people unfairly because they think like that. They are angry with everyone. Above all they are concerned and worried about the day after and their future. They are angry because their friends, relatives or even themselves were compelled or will be forced to emigrate. They are frustrated with the situation. Worse still they do not believe anyone anymore. We all have a responsibility, but we are not all the same. It is true that the Anastasiades-DISY Government are trying to convince the people that we are all the same because they pin their hopes on the politics of leveling, inertia and apathy in the upcoming elections so as not to be punished at the ballot box. This is the reason why it cultivates the myth that “we are all to blame”.
We do not all have the same responsibilities. Yes, we all make mistakes. But we didn’t all commit criminal mistakes. We all have our positions with which some may disagree politically and that is logical. However, not everyone has deliberately lied to the people. We all have our weaknesses. But we haven’t all of a sudden got involved in the suspicious transfers of money abroad when the banks were closed, in strange cases undertaken by law firms and in cases of interwoven interests. We all have weaknesses in our daily work. But we don’t all speak with arrogance, authoritarianism and a disregard for working people.
It was – to say the least – provocative for President Anastasiades to declare that wages perhaps aren’t satisfactory, but at least working people contribute to the financial budget. He should ask the young people working on 500 Euros a month how they manage to make ends meet and contribute in their family.
The governing DISY party President Averof Neophytou was equally provocative, when he called workers on 800 Euros a month privileged and doing well. The bitter truth is that the government and DISY do not hesitate to act with arrogance and authoritarianism. They do not hesitate to dismantle everything, just to serve the privileged few and their elite friends.
As a consequence in Cyprus today the rich are becoming richer, the poor poorer and the young feel they have no future in their country.
Most young Cypriots feel that nothing will change if they go to vote.
The reality is exactly the opposite.
Nothing will change if they abstain.
Abstention is not going to reduce unemployment. It will not increase the 500 Euro salaries young people are being paid today.
Neither will abstention give any rights to those who literally work for nothing, on personal contracts or even without any social insurance.
Abstention is not going to help students who are forced to discontinue their studies.
Abstention will not ensure that public education and public health will be completely rescued, that housing schemes for young couples will all of a sudden appear out of nowhere.
Abstention is not going to prevent foreclosures, the selling of loan packages to private and foreign investment funds, or the selling off of public wealth and assets.
We appeal today to all young people. They may not agree on everything with AKEL. However, they will see their own interests in our positions. Our proposals seek to defend their own rights.
- Extension of unemployment benefit.
- Issue of an Unemployed Card for young unemployed.
- Reduction of military service.
- Raising the minimum wage and strict controls for its implementation.
- Defense of the welfare state.
- Ensure Sunday remains a day off.
- Promoting the employment of qualified youth in industry.
- Promoting research and innovation for the employment of young scientists.
- New Departments and Faculties in the University of Cyprus and Technical University.
- Safeguarding of all student benefits, together with our policy proposal for young people.
But we don’t just want to elaborate proposals. We want to hear what young people have to say. We believe that we can meet in joint actions with the youth of our country who are suffocating as a result of the outdated concepts that want to keep our society tied to the past and to the rotten.
AKEL may have its own analysis about society, the economy and the system which we live in, but that does not mean we can’t enter into a dialogue with them, listen to their positions and ideas and to undertake joint initiatives.
We are here because we want to pave the way for the young generation.
We are here because we want to pave the way for the future of our country’s youth.
If there is a force that can fight for the solution of the Cyprus problem, that can build the future of a reunified Cyprus with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, then this force is AKEL.
If there is a force that can stand against the anti-social policies that can resist and struggle – both within and outside parliament – against the destruction and leveling of all that our people have built for so many years, then this force is AKEL.
If there is a force that can make the difference, this is AKEL.
Let young people give new strength to their own force!
Let’s make together with AKEL-Left the difference!
