We have dealt a severe blow to the whole rotten narrative of nationalism
Interview with Stefanos Stefanou, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL
Sunday 2nd June 2019, “Haravgi” daily newspaper
You have made a positive evaluation of the results from last Sunday’s European elections. Were all of the goals set by AKEL before the election fulfilled?
SS: Yes, we have indeed made a positive appraisal of the Party’s election results. The two main goals we had set have been fulfilled. What were these two goals?
The first goal was to continue to have two MEP’s in the European Parliament, as has been the case since 2004, when Cyprus joined the European Union.
The second goal was to increase AKEL’s percentage vote recorded in the previous elections for the European Parliament. This goal was also fulfilled.
As an initial estimation – because AKEL will proceed to make an in-depth study of the results in the Party’s collective bodies – I would say that the outcome of the European elections has completely left behind the period of introversion and retreats, signaling the period of recovery and counter-attack with the aim of recovering the lost ground. The preconditions have now been created for AKEL to regain its historical position.
The election has highlighted the fact that more and more people are putting their trust in AKEL as the main force of the opposition, which is the force called upon to represent the major pole for the rallying of all those forces and circles who are dissatisfied and reject the policies of the government ruling forces aiming at achieving progressive political change. The elections, moreover, marked a serious deterioration in the political climate for the ruling government forces as a result of the anti-social policies they are pursuing. The reduction in the ruling DISY party’s percentage vote is enormous.
Someone could say, however, that AKEL could have done better, due to the current government’s proven inadequacy in relation to internal governance issues and the Cyprus problem…
SS: The problems accumulated by the Anastasiades – DISY administration are indeed very big, and undeniably the government ruling forces have felt a great disapproval expressed by a large section of society due to their anti-social and neo- liberal policies, but also because of President Anastasiades’ erroneous policies and handlings on the Cyprus problem as well. This was primarily reflected in the big reduction in DISY’s electoral percentages.
Generally speaking, one could argue that, yes, there were possibilities for AKEL to record an even higher percentage of the votes cast. Could AKEL have had an even bigger increase? Yes, it could have done so. However, it shouldn’t escape our attention that we have had to face many difficulties.
First and foremost, we had to face the indifference with which a large section of society views European elections. We had an additional difficulty in that the voters of the Left are harder to mobilize when it comes to European elections. We also had to deal with the pressure exerted on left-wing voters, as it evolved, as a result of the fight between socialist EDEK and far-right ELAM to secure the 6th MEP seat. Apart from this, we knew very well that we had to make a great effort to rally our own forces in order to counter the big abstention which in the 2016 parliamentary elections led our percentages to fall. Back then, you remember that AKEL had fallen to 25.6%. In view of all these and other difficulties, we set concrete goals which we have fulfilled. Therefore given the circumstances, we have recorded a good result. Now, we can raise the bar even higher.
AKEL succeeded in achieving a feat in these elections by bringing Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots closer together, who cast their vote for the same ticket. Has AKEL laid the foundations for the Cyprus of the future, for a reunified Cyprus?
SS: There is no doubt whatsoever that AKEL’s bicommunal ballot and the election of Nyiazi Kizilyurek to the European Parliament with the votes of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots has sent out many messages, both inside and outside Cyprus. The coexistence of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots on a common ballot and the joint electoral campaign that was conducted refuted all the stereotypes and all the claims of those forces and circles in favour of partition and defending the divisive status quo. It is no coincidence that Nyiazi’s candidacy on AKEL’s ballot, as well as his election, have become headline news in the international press and in social media networks in the European Parliament.
It is clear that AKEL has opened a new chapter in the relations of the two Cypriot communities and revived the hope for a solution to the Cyprus problem at a time when, because of the prolonged deadlock, pessimism casts a shadow over everything. AKEL will continue to invest on this path to the benefit of Cyprus and our people; to the benefit of the solution and reunification of our country and the people, within the framework of the solution of bicommunal, bizonal federation.
The inclusion of Nyiazi Kizilyurek on AKEL’s ticket and even more so, after his election has faced the same accusations from forces and circles in both communities. What do you have to say on the matter?
SS: It is a fact that the nationalists in both communities accused AKEL and Nyiazi in the same way. The nationalists within the Turkish Cypriot community characterized Nyiazi as an “agent of the Greeks”, while in the same way the nationalists within the Greek Cypriot community were characterizing him as “a Turkish agent”. That’s precisely what nationalism is about, employing the same arguments everywhere, based on racial and ethnic hatred.
The accusations and the ruthless attacks waged by nationalists against AKEL and its MEP are a confirmation of the correctness of the Party’s policies. We have dealt a severe blow to the whole rotten narrative of nationalism.
At the same time, I cannot but point out that AKEL’s decision has exposed the hidden and underlying nationalism of the Right. It has revealed the real character of governing DISY party, which otherwise boasts of and praises itself for its “Europeanism”. All the statements made by the President of the Republic and the DISY leadership during the election campaign revealed the syndromes of nationalism, bigotry, and even racism too, that haunt the Right.
Despite its success, AKEL didn’t succeed in electing the proven most successful among the Cypriot MEP’s Neoklis Sylikiotis. How do you evaluate this development and how will the Party make use of his services?
SS: The non-election of Neoklis Sylikiotis is a blow, in the sense that during this new parliamentary term we will not have the invaluable experience he has accumulated and we will not be able to make use of the good record he had developed through his activity and work. Admittedly, Neoklis Sylikiotis together with Takis Hadjigeorgiou did an excellent job, which was recorded both in qualitative and quantitative terms in the relevant indicators that the European Parliament and non-governmental organizations have established. Neoklis Sylikiotis will be utilized in the Party’s work. What responsibilities he will assume is something we are discussing at the moment and we will take our decisions very soon. Neoklis, however, has a lot of experience he has gained from several important posts he has held and hence he can offer a lot to the Party.
“The struggle against the far-right isn’t effective when it is random”
Ultimately, the fears about a spectacular increase in the strength of the far-right in Europe were not verified. The forces of the Left, however, don’t appear to have benefited from these elections. Why? And how will AKEL act in the European Parliament?
SS: The fears about a spectacular increase in the strength of the far-right were not really confirmed. However, in several countries an increase was indeed recorded. This fact must not lead to any complacency. The far-right is threatening Europe and European societies, so the struggle against it must continue and be waged on a daily basis.
For struggle against the ultra-right to be effective we must begin by doing away with the policies that cause inequalities, poverty and destitution. The socio-economic conditions created by the neoliberal policies being imposed generate a fertile ground for the far right, which, with its populism and fake “anti-systemic” stand, attracts popular masses that are under great pressure and are being victimized by the policies of the Right. At the same time, the rhetoric of hate, racism and intolerance, which are also a component part of the ultra-right and fascism, must be combated.
The far-right constitutes a reserve force of the Right. Not by accident, far-right parties are part of coalitions in governments together with right-wing parties. It is also no coincidence that right-wing parties are moving even more to the right, becoming even more conservative and reactionary harboring the illusion that by doing so they are addressing the far-right. The Right and extreme-wing have a two-way relationship.
The struggle against the extreme-right cannot be effective it is sporadic or circumstantial, as was the case in Cyprus too. From time to time, all political forces – except AKEL that is – have collaborated or concurred with the far-right ELAM party.
We remember, for example, when N. Anastasiades and governing DISY party were running behind ELAM to secure their votes in the second round of the last presidential election.
We remember when seats or some votes in parliament were at stake, the political forces which previously had been in accord with ELAM subsequently rushed to talk about the danger from the far-right.
However, the branch of the “Golden Dawn” party in Cyprus cannot be combated with such approaches, nor across Europe too. AKEL will continue with the same consistency and intensity to counter the extreme right. We hope, at long last, that the rest of the political forces realise the dangers stemming from the growth of fascism and the far-right and that their antifascism hasn’t ceased now that the elections are over.
