We stand by those in need at Christmas time

Statements by the General Secretary of AKEL Stefanos Stefanou:

23 December 2025, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

We are here again this year, in anticipation of the Christmas and New Year holidays. For the 12th consecutive year, the Social Solidarity Network continues its work for the benefit of society, offering significant assistance to many of our fellow citizens so that people can cope with the difficulties of the economic crisis at a time when it is very important to always show dignity, solidarity, and support for others.

That is precisely why I would like to congratulate the Network for its activities. We have also brought with us a small financial contribution to the Social Solidarity Network to help it continue its work, noting that it is truly inspiring that, through a voluntary mechanism and its continuous efforts, the Network provides support to people in need.

This shows that the value of solidarity and the will to offer support still prevail in our society, even in times of, unfortunately, great individualism. At the same time, the Network’s actions highlight the need for social policy to be adequately and intensively addressed by the state rather than by voluntary organizations.

At the same time as the Network is resuming its activities, we have in our hands the latest data released by the State Statistical Service, which unfortunately once again confirm the high rate of poverty and social and economic insecurity that exists in the country.

At a time when the Cyprus economy is growing and key fiscal indicators are at satisfactory levels, we are nevertheless seeing inequalities, insecurity, and poverty growing. This means that the incomes of a large section of workers, pensioners, and a large part of society are stagnant, that the welfare state has too many shortcomings and cannot meet needs, and that at the same time, inflation continues to ravage and bleed household incomes. All this creates a situation that does no one any credit.

That is precisely why AKEL and the mass organisations of the Left (Note: known as the People’s Movement) in general emphasize that tackling poverty, inequality, and economic and social insecurity demands the implementation of specific policies.

Firstly, these policies must support the incomes of wage earners and workers in general.

Secondly, these phenomena must be addressed by strengthening, developing, and improving the welfare state.

And thirdly, it must be addressed by tackling inflation.

To this end, AKEL, the Left, and the People’s Movement have elaborated, submitted, and promoted specific proposals in various ways, precisely so that we can create an environment that will help combat poverty, the risk of poverty, inequalities, and the general misery that prevails in a large section of society.

So, expressing my congratulations to the People’s Social Solidarity Network on behalf of AKEL, I would like to give this small symbolic amount and congratulate you all on the work you are doing together with the volunteers. Some of them are here today, many are not, but this year they gave hope and concrete help to many of our compatriots and fellow citizens. Congratulations.