Speech by Stefanos Stefanou, General Secretary of AKEL, at the presentation of candidates for the 2026 parliamentary elections
24 January 2026, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
Dear friends,
Elections are not a transfer market (Note: defections from other political parties) or about creating impressions, even though some people try hard to do precisely that.
Elections are not a communication game where clever, and sometimes silly, soundbites stand out, so long as they get a few seconds of media publicity.
Elections, especially the upcoming May parliamentary elections, are a very serious matter where a lot is at stake concerning critical issues. For today and for tomorrow. For society.
We will wage this election battle with a political content. As befits our history. Just as the Left must wage its battles by focusing on issues that affect and influence the lives of citizens.
Dear friends,
The House of Representatives is not some decorative element of the political system. Its role is very important. It approves, rejects, or amends bills submitted by the government. It exercises parliamentary scrutiny over the policies, decisions, and actions of the executive branch, and within the framework provided by the Constitution, the House can legislate.
I say this at the risk of sounding boring, because at this point we need to talk about the obvious: parliamentary elections are not a formal procedure. They are not a poll of discontent. They are not an outburst of anger or an emotional release.
Parliamentary elections themselves are a crucial political decision. They determine who will have power in Parliament and, through that, whose interests will be served.
It is a political decision that determines whether Parliament will ultimately approach problems and challenges with the necessary responsibility, attention, and knowledge.
And something must be said clearly at this point:
The real message of the elections is not what everyone thinks it is. It is the result. It is the correlations. It is the balance of forces that will emerge in Parliament the day after.
Because Parliament does not operate with intentions. It operates with numbers. With the formation of majorities. By whether a proposal is approved or rejected. By whether an audit is carried out or ends up in closed drawers. By whether an antisocial policy is blocked or approved without any obstacles.
The stronger AKEL is in Parliament, the stronger society is inside Parliament. The more difficult it is to approve policies that serve the interests of the few to the detriment of the many. The stronger AKEL is in Parliament, the greater the pressure on the government will be to be accountable, to give explanations, to correct.
This is not something theoretical. We have seen it happen in practice. We saw it when AKEL tried to pass a bill proposal for the taxation of the profits of the banks, a vote which revealed who is on the side of society and who is on the side of banking interests. It also revealed that the government and the political parties that act as the guardians of the banks stood against us.
This scenario was also repeated in the case of foreclosures, when the political parties promoting the interests of the banks took away any possibility for borrowers to defend their rights.
We have also seen this scenario on other issues that affect the quality of life of our citizens. On issues relating to expensiveness, the high cost of living, housing, and energy. AKEL, with its proposals, fought once again to defend and promote people’s interests.
The House of Representatives is not a political party. It does not have a single view. It expresses the people in a condensed form, with their different perceptions, interests, and priorities.
And that is precisely why it is extremely important which forces are strong within it.
The forces that represent working people must be strong.
That represent the small and medium-sized businesses and the young people who feel, not unjustifiably, that they have no future.
Not the powerful financial interests.
Not the establishment, which does not want any scrutiny exercised, avoids transparency and fears accountability.
We are living in a period where institutional entanglement and corruption are not only not being curtailed, but are actually being reinforced. And we are not speaking in abstract terms. Very recently, we witnessed this scenario with sound and image. We saw it in a video that shocked citizens and confirmed that the system of institutional entanglement/collusion and corruption continues to operate with the cover of the President and the government. We saw how the ruling government forces operate with unconstrained arrogance and impunity.
Faced with this reality, the strong and effective force of the opposition is AKEL. Our party stands against a government whose principal priority is not society and its needs, but serving powerful interests. And because I don’t like to theorise, I would like to remind you of the case of the notorious Fund in question which, until recently, was chaired by the wife of the President of the Republic. AKEL strongly and vehemently demanded scrutiny and accountability for the Fund even before the video came to light. Our sensitivity with regards tackling entanglement/interwoven interests and corruption is not opportunistic. It is constant. And it will be persistent until those in power realize that society is now sufficiently aware to not tolerate any kind of cover-up.
We will be persistent and insistent, acting as a bastion against practices that serve business interests behind closed doors. The government’s slow response to the scandal that generated the public outcry itself speaks volumes.
It says a lot about how certain people perceive political responsibility and accountability. But it also says a lot about our role as a militant opposition and as an alternative conception of the exercise of power.
The case of the notorious video has left an indelible mark on the pre-election campaign, highlighting the need to change the balance of forces inside Parliament, with the interests of the many as our moral compass. This can only be achieved with an even stronger presence of AKEL, the Left, and the Social Alliance in Parliament.
AKEL is commencing the election battle by projecting policies to tackle inflation, the housing crisis, and the energy and water problems. For a welfare state capable of meeting the real needs of its citizens. Not with empty talk, but through the elaboration of specific proposals that we have submitted to Parliament and are asserting from the Government. Such as, for example, reducing VAT on electricity, abolishing double taxation on fuel, and cancelling the imposition of ‘green’ taxes. We demanded and won for society because we have specific, feasible proposals and we are that strong that no one can ignore us.
At a time when the political parties, each for their own reasons, are sounding the alarm about the rise of the far right, our people are called upon to support and give more power to the most consistent party that stands against the ultra-right: AKEL.
In the difficult and contradictory landscape in which we live in, the rise of the far right is one of the most dangerous developments in our country. The far right threatens democracy and poses a danger to fundamental human values. The far right is the reserve force of those forces and circles who impose anti-social policies and serve powerful interests.
When AKEL warned about the rise of the far right, everyone else mocked us and said we were scaremongering.
When we issued a call that no one should cooperate with the ultra-right, others invested in their vote for the Presidency of the Republic and the House of Representatives.
And if we add to this scenario the flirtations of the Christodoulides government with the far-right party ELAM, then the dangers of the rise of the far right become even greater, as it now influences government decisions.
We often hear it said that “they are all the same” and that “we have nothing to expect from anyone.” The anger being expressed behind this view is understandable.
But it is not true.
If everyone were the same, there would be no disagreements or clashes.
There would be no reactions.
There would be no proposals that are fiercely contested.
Those who defend super exorbitant profits of the banks are not the same as those who propose taxing them.
Those who refuse transparency are not the same as those who demand it.
The idea that “everyone is the same” suits those who want a society that has given up, surrendered. AKEL is not asking for a blank check. It is asking for comparisons to be made. It is asking to be judged on the basis of its policies. On the basis of its history, its positions, its actions, and its contributions.
And our history is a hundred years full of struggles for Cyprus and its people. With bloody sacrifices and sweat. With struggles waged in the underground and prohibitions, struggles with imprisonments, persecutions, and sacrifices. Always at the forefront, for the common people who want peace, security, and dignity.
The future of our country is directly linked to the end of the Turkish occupation and the reunification of Cyprus.
AKEL is the party that has consistently championed a solution of the Cyprus problem, as provided for in the High-Level Agreements and UN resolutions. With consistency and responsibility.
It is the Party that, when it speaks about the Cyprus problem, is listened to by both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. We are the only political force that has historical and strong ties with the progressive section of the Turkish Cypriot community.
We are the political force whose positions and views are of particular importance to the international community, to the institutions of the European Union, and especially to the UN.
Dear friends,
Today we present a list of candidates that was decided with the voice of the many and not through the appointments of the few.
A list with more young people, more women, with people from different groups and professions, who have different experiences, knowledge, and specializations.
People who are selfless, honest, transparent, guided solely by the best interests of our country and society.
A candidate list that truly dares to give a voice and power to those who do not have one.
A list that expresses the values and ideals of the contemporary Left, without ideological barriers, but with the momentum created by a strong social alliance.
Young people who struggle, women who assert, people with everyday experiences, with enthusiasm and ideas for the changes we need.
This is the future we want.
Those who believe that politics should serve the many, exist for the many, we invite you to join us. To unite your voice with ours.
Your strength with ours.
Dear friends,
The upcoming elections must not be turned into elections of venting anger or expressing sweeping disdain. These are elections of responsibility. Collective and individual responsibility. Elections that will be judged by the result, by who will ultimately have the power in Parliament to responsibly represent society.
At a time of uncertainty, seriousness is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Experimentation and frivolity will not solve any problems. That is precisely why every vote counts.
A vote for AKEL is a proven vote. It is a vote that changes the balance of forces in favour of society. It is a vote that strengthens society, the voice of the many.
AKEL – for society, with a plan and responsibility.
This is what is really at stake. And this is the choice that will make a real difference for the present and future of our Cyprus!
Our country deserves the best!
And AKEL can deliver the best.
For our Cyprus.
For our society and our people.
Let’s move forward together, because together we can!
And we shall succeed!
For all of us!
