Speech by the General Secretary of AKEL A. Kyprianou at the pre-election rally of Nicosia-Kyrenia Province
26th May 2021, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
I come to this podium filled with emotion this evening.
I see in your faces the enthusiasm of the youth. I see in the faces of our veterans, the hands that have worked and have been working tirelessly for the cause of Cyprus and the working people for years.
No matter the difficulties and obstacles. This was AKEL. This is still what AKEL is today. The power of many. The cause of the many. The work of many.
During the years that I have the honor of being in the leadership of AKEL, I have been moved by many moments. One of them, is the time when our Party veterans were honored with the 50 years of service medal. Their faces marked by hardship, the passage of time and suffering. But always with a smile and struggling tirelessly.
That generation built Cyprus that gave life from its life to the struggles of the People’s Movement of the Left. One such comrade had come to receive his medal. He could no longer walk. He couldn’t even get out of the car. We went out to award him the Party veteran medal.
He gave us the impression that it was the most important day of his life. Not only because AKEL attributed to him the recognition of his contribution, which he viewed as his obligation. On his side were his children and grandchildren. When he received the medal, he simply looked at them proudly and told them: “continue the struggle”.
This is AKEL.
A glorious honored History spanning almost 95 years, with the future ahead.
It is what gives meaning to our slogan “Now and forever AKEL”.
Certain forces refer to the “old party system” on numerous occasions.
They are evidently referring to AKEL, which happens to be the oldest party in Cyprus. But they do not bother to ask the following: What made a party that was banned twice and struggled in illegality, that has suffered persecution, assassinations, imprisonment and been targeted by forces both inside and outside Cyprus endure?
Why didn’t History swallow it up, like it did with so many other political formations that have come and gone in Cyprus? We see that today too.
In these elections, certain forces have appeared as ‘saviors’. We have observed political figures who have changed three parties in just three years, without any real position. Ballots have been formed that represent a mosaic of views. Everyone’s views are served, others are in favor of the solution of the Cyprus problem, others against it. They demand people vote for them without telling the people what their position will be in Parliament and in the National Council.
This is also the case with those today appealing for the vote of people of the Left, just as they did in the European elections to survive politically, finally ended up throwing a life jacket to the Anastasiades Government by voting for the government’s state budgets.
In previous elections, parties appeared, built around a figure with the label of an independent, an ‘autonomous’ candidate. They entered the Parliament and their true character began to be revealed, subsequently they weakened and disappeared.
Why didn’t this happen decades ago to AKEL?
It didn’t happen because AKEL was and remains a force tied to the people. A force that lives the problems and needs of the many, the force that turns them into struggles, into positions, proposals and demands.
Let’s look at the demands of our pioneering comrades in 1926: Joint struggle of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots against the dynasties. Increase in daily wages. Implementation of an eight-hour working day and protection of working people. Free medical care. Financial support for the unemployed. Taxation of wealth.
Today we are again fighting for the exactly the same things. For what the pioneers struggled for back then.
Today we hear regretfully that a Greek Cypriot leader was found to have discussed a two state solution, both inside and outside Cyprus.
A leader who without shame, delivered and delivers lessons to everyone else. What did he achieve?
The Cyprus problem under the Anastasiades administration is one step away from the partition of our homeland.
Mr. Anastasiades inherited the Cyprus problem with joint announcements agreed that ensured key long-standing positions of our side.
With many issues agreed and recorded as convergences.
With the chapter on energy opening up a huge perspective and with the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus safeguarded.
With the international community acknowledging that our side was one step ahead in the efforts to solve the problem. That the obstacle to the solution was Turkey.
What did Mr. Anastasiades do and where did he lead the Cypriot problem to?
Unfortunately, Turkey has become more and more provocative and aggressive.
Turkey put on the negotiating table its unacceptable demand for a two state solution. It is proceeding with new fait accompli in Varosha.
We do not absolve Turkey of its longstanding responsibility for the non-solution of the Cyprus problem. The positions it promotes are unacceptable and condemnable, while its actions are provocative.
However, Mr. Anastasiades must ask himself where his constant contradictions and regressions have led us to and where his current approach of apathy is leading to, which simply facilitates Turkey to insist on its unacceptable demands.
He must at long last realize that if he doesn’t take initiatives, we will be led to partition. This is how he will go down in history – as the president of partition. He told the people that he would solve the Cyprus problem. In the end, he will bear grave responsibilities because Cyprus may well be definitively divided into two.
The Anastasiades-DISY Government will go down in history for another negative record. During its term of office, corruption and entanglement/interwoven interests have spiraled and reached new heights. The government ruling forces and DISY insist that this phenomenon is timeless. It is indeed longstanding, because it is a phenomenon inherent in the capitalist system in which we live. But during their administration it has become institutional because they themselves used the power given to them by the people to make a profit for their chosen ones, the privileged few.
In which other country does the Council of Ministers approve decisions with which the family businesses of the government ruling forces earn millions?
In which other country does the President decide on matters handled by his family law firm and from which he earns millions?
In which other country does the President go on a free family vacation with the jet of a Saudi multimillionaire tycoon friend and thanks him by giving him over forty passports for his wider family circle?
In which other country does the President agree to testify in court in a case in which an official he himself has appointed is accused of corruption, extortion and bribery and who eventually ends up in jail?
In which other country did the President who pledged not to impose a haircut on bank deposits eventually succumb, with the people’s deposits were cut but also millions of euros of his family circle by chance were transferred to accounts abroad?
All this is what has provoked anger and resentment in society. When we point this out to them, DISY leaves hints about a supposed corrupt AKEL.
I will repeat it to them. I am ready as the leader of AKEL to send any auditor who wants to audit my own and my family’s accounts. On one condition only: that they accept that we send an auditor to scrutinize theirs in the same way. Don’t talk but prove what you can do, here and now.
We have already submitted our proposals in Parliament.
For an asset and funds-source declaration, on the appointments of independent officials and the reduction of their term of office, the disclosure of interests behind political figures and their relations to the mass media, the limitation of terms of office in public office.
For the separation of church and state, the regulation of the Church’s financial obligations and transparency in its business relationships with the state. Over the past few days, they have again began promising everything to the people. But now the people have experienced their actions and learned. How many pledges must the people listen to and believe in.
The way they are governing the country is now reminiscent of the comical pledge “I promise to bring sea to Nicosia”. They remembered a few days before the election to promise everything under the sun. But in essence, what are they proposing?
How are the thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises that have suffered the most severe blows – and often consecutive and contradictory decrees – supported?
How will they be protected from the arbitrariness and abusive stand of the banks, from foreclosures, evictions and complete destruction?
How will the cooperative credit sector be re-established with the aim of protecting farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises?
How can we build a new developmental model and channel our country’s creative forces in the correct direction? How will we support workers, farmers, young people and pensioners? How do we invest in knowledge and research?
How will energy become a social good in which everyone has equal access to with affordable prices?
Today’s young generation is the first that lives worse than their parents did.
A young couple today feel lucky if they have a family salary of 2,000 euros. From this amount, they’ll pay 600 euros in rent, 300 euros for the kindergarten and 400 euros to pay the bills.
With the remaining 700 euros a young couple has to shop, pay for fuel and extra expenses.
In many cases young couples have to support their own parents, who are unemployed at an age when the labour market does not consider them suitable for employment. They are just waiting for the years to pass by to get a meagre symbolic pension.
What will happen to these people?
What future is there in store for them?
The majority of young people work for low wages and without insurance. Thousands of young people live on meagre wages, a life full of problems.
AKEL has elaborated and submitted positions and proposals on all these issues. Positions and proposals submitted long before the elections and we will continue to fight for even after the elections.
Proposals for the protection of all working people and for the establishment of fundamental labour rights for all.
For the safeguarding of a minimum wage, a 13th month bonus, overtime, holidays and a Provident Fund. For the abolition of the 12% penalty for those choosing to retire at 63.to
We have elaborated policies that provide support to families, working people, women and single parents. Strengthening the social infrastructure for the care of children and the elderly, with the formulation of a comprehensive state housing policy.
AKEL insists – Public and free health for all. Public hospitals must be strengthened and supported.
DISY leader Av. Neophytou had spoken arrogantly about health workers/professionals. “If they don’t like their job, we’ll bring others in their place.” He called them “petty-nurses”. Now they address and applaud them, expressing their gratitude for their services… They once were advertising that private initiatives must be permitted in the health sector too. The pandemic has shown that every self-respecting state must provide a quality public health care system to all.
We must build the future of the people of Cyprus on Health, Education, Work and Culture, and not for people be afraid of what the day after will bring.
We’ve heard a lot during in this election campaign too. But what is the crucial thing? It is that the majority of society is tired and dissatisfied. That it is worried about the future, filled with insecurity and uncertainty, about reduced wages and curbed rights, with a dismantled welfare state and ongoing scandals reminding us ironically that so long as people are making all the sacrifices, the few get rich on their backs. Mr. Anastasiades and DISY no longer convince the majority of society that others are to blame for all this situation. After eight years in power, it is now clear to everyone who is responsible for the situation we are in.
Sunday’s election is the time for the many to send a strong message to Mr. Anastasiades and ruling DISY.
Today we had another unprecedented scandal with another of Mr. Anastasiades’ “excellent of the excellent”. Anastasiades appointed the Volunteerism Commissioner twice and more than doubled his salary, despite AKEL’s strong presentations in Parliament, only to find out today that he didn’t have a degree and that he forged the grades of his diploma.
Favoritism, cronyism and clientelism for the “excellent” – but wages of 800 euros and unemployment for others.
They think they can control everything and everyone. They are undermining institutions. They behave as if they can do whatever they want in the country and the institutions.
That’s another reason to go to the polls on Sunday.
No one should abstain!
Our own vote should speak to them. To tell them that we can no longer stand anti-social policies, corruption, authoritarianism and their arrogance.
We want change.
We want policies for the interests and needs of the many.
On Sunday, anger and resentment must go to the polls and become a loud voice.
On Sunday the people must give strength to their own force. To give strength to AKEL. To give strength to the force that defends workers, public health, public education and the environment.
To give strength to the force that is struggling to strengthen the welfare state, for social protection to those in need.
To give strength to the force that fights for the workers, farmers, young people, women and pensioners.
To give strength to the force that fights for the solution of the Cyprus problem and the reunification of our homeland.
Without a strong AKEL, change can’t come.
On Sunday, the people must give a clear message to Mr. Anastasiades and ruling DISY. That the countdown has begun!
During these last few days AKEL has to reach everywhere!
Let’s raise a wave of excitement to tell them we’ve had enough! To raise a wave for the change we want! For the Cyprus we want!
With optimism, raise high our flags!
We can! We shall succeed!
Let’s move forward dynamically!
Together with AKEL!
For better days!
For the change!
