Ensuring housing for all is a right not a joke

Statement by AKEL Political Bureau & Head of Economic Policy Charis Polycarpou

19 October 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

Nicos Anastasiades – from the podium of the conference organised by the “Economist” – considers everything to be rosy in the economy. If reality were not so difficult for thousands of households and businesses to determine, this could also be considered as one of the jokes he has been telling lately. It would be a joke if every day that went by new figures weren’t being released documenting that price hikes are indeed bringing society to its knees.

Yesterday, the Bureau of Statistics announced new increases in construction costs for 2022. Increases that, along with the scarcity of essential goods and stagnant wages, make it even more difficult for thousands of young people to obtain housing.

When Nicos Anastasiades states that the DISY government has laid the foundations for sustainable economic and social development, he obviously believes that housing is not part of this strategy otherwise the State would have safeguarded that the State had a comprehensive housing policy, ensuring that society had access to affordable housing. The State would have ensured that proposals such as the establishment of a single housing policy body, the provision of affordable housing and incentives and support measures in urban centres would have been implemented.

We do not expect anything in the remainder of this administration’s term of office beyond pre-election communication tricks and sensationalist moves. The right to housing can only be restored with a progressive change in the way we govern with the election of Andreas Mavroyiannis and by ridding ourselves from the DISY government.