Speech by the General Secretary of AKEL Stefanos Stefanou at the Plenary session of the Central Committee on the 2026 Parliamentary Elections

 

27 September 2025

Today, we will approve AKEL’s objectives and framework for action in view of the May 2026 Parliamentary Elections.

Parliamentary elections are very important. They determine the balance of power in Parliament, but also in political life. They also determine how much and how Parliament intervenes within the framework of its constitutional powers and responsibilities for the benefit of society and the country. Their outcome determines the ability of each political force to promote policies, intervene, and play a role in the small and major issues that concern the country and society.

The upcoming parliamentary elections are even more important because our times and conditions are critical. In Cyprus, in our region, in Europe and throughout the whole world. In these conditions, Cyprus needs coherent and serious forces that have a proper understanding of the best interests of the country, society, and its people.

Cyprus needs forces that, without populism, assertively, responsibly, but also creatively, will work in the present to secure the future. AKEL is such a force! A force that is robust, assertive, responsible, effective, and visionary in its huge effort to move Cyprus forward and for its progress. And this is not just a declaration, of which there are many these days. It is documented through the Party’s hundred-year old history, its struggles, contributions and achievements.

AKEL is a force with a steadfast and consistent line on the Cyprus issue. It speaks clearly and unambiguously about the agreed basis for a solution, which is a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, as described by the United Nations. AKEL has a clear understanding of how we must move forward to break the long-standing deadlock and capitalise on the achievements that have been recorded in negotiations (on the Cyprus problem). Above all, AKEL is a force that does not settle for the temporary, does not accept or silently compromise with the temporary nature of the partitionist status quo, which is steadily sliding towards the worse (scenario).

AKEL does not adapt its positions and rhetoric to suit whatever audience it addresses. We do not say one thing to bourgeois Nicosia and another where the far right is on the march. We seek a solution that will end the Turkish occupation and reunite Cyprus and our people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. We are convinced that the solution will unleash new dynamics and open up new prospects for our country. It will help us to face positively the challenges that lie ahead and demand urgent answers. Challenges such as energy, water, and climate change, in which our country finds itself stuck and trapped, and the Christodoulides government is proving to be unable and incapable of addressing them.

Cyprus is experiencing energy shortages and insecurity due to the misguided and flawed policies of the previous Anastasiades-DISY government and the incompetence of the current Christodoulides government. On the energy issue, the government promised and declared a lot about both the onshore terminal in Vasilikos and the electricity interconnection, but in the end, both key projects are stalled, leaving any energy planning up in the air.

And in the face of this difficult situation, the government isn’t taking any responsibility. Nor is it taking any responsibility for other issues too, which it usually leaves unaddressed or shifts the blame elsewhere. As it did, for example, recently with the major disaster that befell our country due to the fires in the semi-mountainous and mountainous area of Limassol, and ultimately, the blame was placed on two cigarette butts.

Cyprus faces a serious problem of inflation and inequality. Many people are facing enormous difficulties in making ends meet, yet the government ruling forces limit themselves to making selective references to economic indicators without taking into account the difficulties faced by the people.

In our society, interwoven interests, corruption, and impunity unfortunately continue to prevail, even though the President often tries to convince us through his statements that he is determined to tackle these unhealthy phenomena. Political will is demonstrated by actions, not statements, and so far we have seen nothing concrete from the government to convince us that this will does exist. Cyprus has been and continues to be discredited internationally because of the “golden passport” scandal, and no one has been brought to justice. It is as if the scandal came out of nowhere. Impunity must end. And because the government is doing nothing in this direction, we at AKEL, to the extent of our capabilities, have taken action. Our request to the Anti-Corruption Authority to investigate the scandal in Vasilikos is yet another action that follows many others that we as a Party have taken — both inside and outside Parliament — to bring scandals and wrongdoing to light.

The Christodoulides government is showing an inability to promote and complete projects. Many projects have been interrupted without any guarantee that they will continue and be completed, and this is costing many millions of euros, which are ultimately paid by taxpayers. Furthermore, our country is at risk of having to pay fines and compensation payments amounting to hundreds of millions of euros for contracts that have been suspended, with cases pending in courts in Cyprus and abroad.

The list of issues that demonstrate the government’s weakness and incompetence is long and irrefutable. Citizens elect a President not to shift responsibility elsewhere or to find excuses and alibis for mistakes, slip-ups, and errors. They elect a President who, together with his government, promotes solutions and implements policies, rather than becoming trapped or hiding behind problems. Governments must find solutions to problems, not turn them into excuses for any inaction. Unfortunately, we do not see this from the Christodoulides government. It is unable to provide solutions to problems.

Speaking of the governance of the country, permit me to highlight an unprecedented phenomenon that is occurring in Cyprus and which is perhaps unique in the world.

President Christodoulides states at every opportunity that he is continuing the policies of the previous government, the Anastasiades-DISY government, of which he was a prominent member. The parties that supported him and are participating in the government promised change before the elections and continue to do so today. However, they have never answered the question of how change will come about with the policies of the previous government that Mr. Christodoulides is implementing. No answer, because there is none. Change demands a change in policies being pursued, and we do not see that happening.

This unprecedented scenario is compounded by DISY declaring that it is in opposition. It is their right to declare themselves to be in opposition. However, citizens are wondering: how can DISY oppose its own policies? How much of an opposition can it really be when a large part of the government consists of DISY members and supporters? How can DISY be in opposition when its own President declares that he belongs to DISY? The answer is simple and logical: DISY is not in opposition. This is evident from its political practice of supporting the government’s key political decisions and actions. It is evident from DISY’s eagerness to respond to AKEL, even when the government says nothing, when AKEL criticises it. The culmination of this unprecedented political scene is the fact that the President, on numerous occasions, winks at far-right ELAM, which generously offers its help whenever the government needs it.

Within the framework of this political scene, AKEL stands out as the strong, proven, and effective force of the opposition. The role of the opposition in a democratic system is always important because it checks/scrutinizes power, and through the pressure and criticism it exerts, it prevents or encourages policies. AKEL plays this role dynamically and consistently as the genuine, clear, and effective opposition in our country.

Citizens elect parties to Parliament with one basic rationale: to use the institution to promote policies that benefit society. Citizens! This is what citizens want, and this is what AKEL has always been doing, highlighting Parliament as an arena for waging struggles and action for the benefit of society and our country.

AKEL has always approached and utilized Parliament as an institution through which it advocates and promotes policies that benefit society, especially workers, young people, and vulnerable groups of the population. It is a platform from which it fights to repel anti-social policies, to highlight and resolve issues that concern the people, and to defend and deepen social and political rights and gains.

AKEL MPs have always demonstrated rich and diverse parliamentary work. Hundreds of bills are adopted on a range of important issues, valid and continuous parliamentary control of the executive power and the functioning of the state is exercised, creative and serious participation in committee discussions, and a significant contribution is made to the promotion of legislation that contributes to the modernization of Cypriot society. This is how AKEL has consistently utilized the power given to it by voters in Parliament. We are proud of this long-standing presence and contribution, which is widely recognized beyond the spectrum of the Left.

There are many tangible and specific examples of AKEL’s productive and creative presence in Parliament. There are also many tangible examples of AKEL raising issues and promoting proposals on matters that concern the majority of society.

Issues such as the abusive practices of banking institutions, which were recently pointed out by the Consumer Protection Commission. AKEL has raised these issues many times over a long period of time, denouncing clauses and “loopholes” used by the banks to abuse their dominant position. These are phenomena that the banks’ political party lobbies have been trying to sweep under the carpet for years. When AKEL raised these issues in Parliament – and it does so frequently – their reaction was fierce. They reacted just as strongly when AKEL proposed taxing the banks’ exorbitant profits. It is no exaggeration to say that the Presidency and the parties in Parliament moved heaven and earth to prevent AKEL’s proposal from being approved. They may have succeeded by a narrow margin, but AKEL managed to stir stagnant waters once again and bring to the public debate the need to tax exorbitant profits, exercise control over banking practices, and provide support to those in need. Unfortunately, there are many such people in our society, which is plagued by the threat of poverty and the inability of many to meet their basic needs.

AKEL is fighting hard both inside and outside Parliament to promote measures that will reduce the high cost of energy. We pay the second most expensive electricity across the EU in relation to the purchasing power of wages. Such measures include a permanently reduced VAT rate on electricity, the withdrawal of green taxes, the abolition of double taxation on fuel, the enrichment of programs that allow small and medium-sized households access to energy, and numerous other measures.

All this and much more proves that AKEL is a party of action, a party that acts for the benefit of workers, society, and the country. All of AKEL’s actions inside Parliament prove that its worth voting for AKEL and that this value is returned many times over to society and citizens. Citizens know that the stronger AKEL is in Parliament and among the people, the more effectively it can serve the country.

I am confident that with the collective effort and work of all of us, AKEL can and will emerge stronger in the upcoming parliamentary elections, as citizens appreciate its actions and recognize its pro-people policies. They recognize its assertive and responsible stance and policies. We will continue these policies and actions even more strongly, even more dynamically, even more effectively. The citizens give us power with their vote, and we use that power to work for progress and prosperity.

Our election campaign begins today. Today we begin the democratic processes for forming our electoral lists. These procedures start at the party base organisations and reach the leadership. In AKEL, we do not appoint or impose any candidates. We form our ballots together with the party grass roots membership and the friends of the Party in the Social Alliance. Our candidate lists are the result of broad participation and collective decision-making. This is the main reason why we always have capable and worthy candidates on our ballots, ready for action.

Our candidate lists always cover and express the entire spectrum of the Left, but also a broader progressive spectrum. Electoral lists with distinguished people in various professional fields and from their social activities, in which the youth and women’s element is strong and the balance between experience and renewal is ensured.

This time, we are starting the process of forming the electoral lists earlier than in previous elections. Based on the timetable we have drawn up, our ballots will be ready by the end of November. Compared to previous elections, AKEL will have its ballots ready two and a half months earlier, so there will be even more time to engage with the people, which is something we at AKEL never stop doing anyway.

So we continue our work! We call on the members and friends of AKEL to attend the meetings of the Party Base Organisations, to enrich the dialogue that is beginning and to submit their proposals. We continue our work where the heart of society beats: at the workplace, in neighborhoods, among young people and in mass organizations.

We continue our work with optimism and momentum!

We continue as we know how to support society and raise it higher with the aim of taking it where it deserves to be.

We continue our work for Cyprus and our people with even greater vigour!

Because a strong AKEL means a strong fight for the interests of the working world!

A strong AKEL means strength for the weak.

A strong AKEL means strength for the country, strength for the people!