Interview with the General Secretary of AKEL A.Kyprianou
Sunday 23rd May 2021, ‘Fileleftheros’ newspaper
AKEL is the protagonist for change
– What is AKEL’s electoral goal in this electoral contest? How high have you set the bar?
AK: Our goal is to get a higher percentage than the previous parliamentary elections so that AKEL remains a leading force in the political life of our country, the strong voice of citizens it is asserting for and the powerful pole rallying people for the progressive change that the country needs.
– What will the percentage you will receive in the Parliamentary elections mean for AKEL? Do you consider it a poll in view of the presidential elections as well?
AK: It is important that AKEL remains strong so that it can play a leading role in the effort to achieve progressive change in the governance of the country. To be the pole bringing together social movements and political parties. In this sense, we do consider it important and we definitely connect it with the Presidential elections.
– The polls so far show AKEL losing some ground. Does the river of society’s dissatisfaction also affect you too? Why do you think, as an opposition party, you don’t manage to capitalize on the people’s dissatisfaction with the Government?
AK: Numerous polls have been conducted. I believe losses, and indeed significant losses, are recorded for DISY. As far as we are concerned, we will wait to see the election results. We are confident that we shall eventually achieve our goal. It is normal for a society in crisis to be difficult to persuade. The attempt to convince the people is made difficult also because of the numerous political formations that have been created which, instead of submitting proposals, issue slogans into the debate. It is also hampered by the overwhelming government domination in the mass media. If you watch any news bulletin at night you will understand what I mean. The ruling party and Government appear for 20 minutes and AKEL as the opposition for 20 seconds.
We insist on projecting our positions and proposals, on what really concerns Cypriot society, the Cyprus problem, labour relations, public health and education, social policy, the fight to stamp out corruption and on culture. That’s how we try to convince the people. We will continue to support and promote this effort through positions and proposals after the elections as well. The crucial thing is not what we all say before the election, but what we say and actually do in practice after the election.
– They consider you are a part of the old party system establishment and part of the pathogenesis of the political system. Doesn’t that bother you? How do you address that as a party? How can AKEL convince that it can represent the alternative?
AK: AKEL is indeed the oldest party in the country. There is a reason why history hasn’t dissolved it, like it did with so many other political formations. Not just because of its rich history and experience, but because of its ability, applying its philosophy, to identify the needs of progress, of each specific era and turn them into demands, political action and political proposals. AKEL’s ability to modernize and adapt itself has helped it endure all these years.
If one looks back at the Congress decisions of the First congress of the Communist Party of Cyprus, one will identify the demands the then illiterate poor fought for: the waging of a joint struggle of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots against their tyrants, for an increase in daily wages the implementation of an eight-hour working day and the protection of working people. For free medical care and financial support for the unemployed. For the taxation of profits derived from the black market, but also taxes on luxury items. These demands have a historical dimension as they were ahead of their time and bring us to today.
Today we have reached the point of hearing that Greek Cypriots were found to be discussing a two state solution. Today, when wages are meagre, rights curbed, the weak unprotected and acquiring a home is very expensive. Today when the eight hour working day has become an exception and Sunday has become a working day.
AKEL is for that reason the most experienced party in the country, but its demands address contemporary needs and problems. That is the essential thing. In terms of the perception that exists in society, we certainly need to reflect on this perception. Although we consider this perception unfair, we need to address it with the elaboration and submission of concrete measures.
– Does polarization perhaps distance people from politics and everyone at the end of the day pays the consequence?
AK: Never in its history has AKEL tried to divide the people. Others have a rich record in doing so. We insist on putting forward our positions and proposals and trying in every case to contribute in a creative way to addressing people’s problems.
Consider, for example, how AKEL behaved over the past year. With the outbreak of the pandemic, we didn’t act indifferently by simply following the government’s actions and exercise criticism. We submitted to the Government specific proposals on public health, for the support of small and medium enterprises and the self-employed, on education, culture, etc. Let me also remind you that without AKEL’s decisive support we would not have the National Health Scheme. Furthermore, the creation of a Deputy Ministry for Research, Innovation and Digital Technology was AKEL’s proposal.
– What are your priorities as a party in Parliament? What reforms do you think should be promoted immediately and how will you contribute to this? The Government and DISY accuse you of blocking everything…
AK: Regarding the supposed blocking, I will say that Mr. Anastasiades is the President who made the most referrals to legislation approved by Parliament – not AKEL. Let me first remind you that others went down in history as the “governing parliament”. Mr. Anastasiades is the President who made the most referrals to legislation approved by Parliament. Legislations passed by the majority of Parliament, not AKEL on its own. He referred numerous laws that had the support of even ruling DISY as well, indifferent to the position taken by the majority of Parliament.
As regards the issue of reforms, I will just refer to the example of the NHS, unless the Government and DISY consider reform only their own point of view. Because in the case of, say, the reform of the Public Service, DISY and the Government had one point of view, everyone else disagreed with it, but the government ruling forces insisted that their own point of view must pass.
Finally, let me say that AKEL has submitted many proposals to the Government throughout the previous period on numerous and critical issues. On public health, support for small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed workers, on labour issues, the welfare state, tourism, on the issue regarding the resumption of talks surrounding the Cyprus problem. Even DISY, which is the ruling party, didn’t submit as many proposals to the Government as we did, in our effort to contribute towards addressing the serious problems facing the country and Cypriot society.
Mr. Anastasiades acknowledged this in a public statement. DISY has remained obsessed in accusing AKEL of “destructive opposition”.
– How far will you go on the issue of the name of the Party and what exactly will you ask? Will you dispute the result or demand compensation? Why did you not pass the bill brought by the Government as a matter of urgency, which would solve the problem?
AK: The relevant bill that came at the last minute did not solve the problem. The Government simply did us the favor of AKEL running in the 2021 elections under the same name as we did in 2016 (Note: AKEL-Left-New Forces). Then, the demand was to forget the name of our electoral ballot. This is not the issue, but that the Government is again acting arbitrarily and in an authoritarian manner.
After 30 years of contesting elections as AKEL-Left-New Forces (16 elections in total) the Government told us that we are forbidden to use this name. We sought to solve the problem before the elections. Unfortunately, the Administrative Court told us that it has no jurisdiction to rule. To go to the Electoral Court we must have the election result. What we will claim is what we have had for the last 30 years, namely the name of our electoral ballot.
