The problem is that Mr Christodoulides doesn’t understood the problem

Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Giorgos Koukoumas

6 March 2024, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

We didn’t learn anything new from the President’s televised interview. But the bigger problem is that President Christodoulides doesn’t understand what the problem actually is. Namely, what is the reason why his popularity is plummeting [in opinion polls] at an unprecedented rate and why the overwhelming majority of citizens are expressing their disappointment with him and his government.

Mr. Christodoulides insists that his government’s problem is down to its communication policy, when all he is doing is engaging in communication tricks. What he needs to understand – and indeed rectify – is that his government lacks a vision, an understanding of society’s needs and in its ability to govern and handle issues. We cannot but recognise that work has been done in individual areas, which we have supported and continue to support. But the big picture is unfortunately different.

• the main thing for us is that the government has no real answers to confront the problem of price hikes/expensiveness that is squeezing the overwhelming majority of society. And at the same time, however, it has found – together with DISY and the parties backing the government – 20 million euros to give away to big companies by exempting them from the corporate tax, instead of listening to AKEL’s proposal for a graduated tax.

Furthermore, the government continues to stubbornly refuse to tax the exorbitant profits of the banks and energy companies, as we are demanding, so as to finance a drastic package of support measures for society in the face of poverty, high interest rates, rents and electricity.

• On corruption, Mr. Christodoulides continues to refuse to talk about the Anastasiades decade that has humiliated the country. No talk whatsoever of accountability and katharsis, of appointing criminal investigators for the ‘golden’ passport scheme scandal as he pledged to do during the election campaign. These things do not take time to happen. The President does not have the will to do so for obvious reasons.
• On the Cyprus problem, the “milestones” set by Mr. Christodoulides himself have passed without yielding any results. On the appointment of an EU envoy, he insists that he does not understand what the EU is telling him. While on the Guterres Framework and the negotiating acquis [body of work agreed so far], his position is anything but clear.

Mr. Christodoulides shouldn’t make excuses. He alone raises the bar and he alone has failed to succeed, on both small and major issues. Nor is Mr. Christodoulides as he alleges without any party affiliation. He is a genuine political child of DISY party and Nicos Anastasiades and now he is in coalition with DIKO, EDEK, DIPA and whenever he needs he can rely on the votes of ELAM as well.

06.03.2024