Speech by the General Secretary of AKEL Stefanos Stefanou at the event marking the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of Cyprus -AKEL

 

9 September 2026, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

One hundred years of history. A whole century of life, guided by the goal of serving the good of our country.

Tonight we honour this historic cycle by picking up the thread from the past to speak of the future.

Because the centenary of the Communist Party of Cyprus – AKEL, our country’s longest-standing political organisation, is the most resounding reminder that not only do we remain active, but we can also create a dynamic progressive movement to breathe the spirit of change into our society.

Comrades,

Friends and guests,

We are proud of our Party’s hundred-year history. And we are even more proud because the mark left by its assertions and struggles is clearly evident in all the great achievements that have shaped the course of our country for the better. AKEL does not need to prove itself. Its history speaks itself.

By honouring our history today, with this modest ceremony, we honour both the pioneers who founded the Communist Party of Cyprus in August 1926 and AKEL, which succeeded it in April 1941.

Together, we honour the thousands of members and supporters of AKEL and more broadly, of the Left, who, throughout the various historical periods of these hundred years, have been at the forefront of the struggles and service for Cyprus and our people.

Tonight, we pay special tribute to all those who gave their lives so that our country might enjoy better days, overcome difficulties, problems and attacks, and walk the path of progress, free from turmoil.

The list of heroes brought to the fore by the Party and the People’s Movement of the Left [Note: the mass organisations of the Left headed by AKEL] in national, political, class and social struggles is a very long one. And this is the clearest proof that AKEL, consistently and without interruption, has always been at the forefront of the struggles for our country and people.

AKEL’s historical trajectory is inextricably linked to the history of Cyprus throughout the 20th century and continues to be a defining force to this day.

AKEL’s predecessor, the Communist Party of Cyprus (CPC), from the very first day of its emergence on the political scene, made the overthrow of British colonial rule its top priority. Our Party served this goal with consistency and determination right up until the day Cyprus gained its independence.

AKEL, which had already succeeded the Communist Party of Cyprus, supported the newly established Cypriot state with all its might and fought for the completion of Cyprus’s independence, in the face of both domestic and external conspiracies and subversions.

It defended democracy and the rule of law against fascism and the far right. AKEL’s supporters stood firm against the terror of EOKA B and the Greek junta-fascist coup.

Members and supporters of AKEL, upon being released from the detention centres where the coupists had imprisoned them, did not hesitate for a single moment to head for the shores of Kyrenia and climb the slopes of the Pentadaktylos mountain range to defend our homeland from the hordes of Turkey invading army Attila, brought to Cyprus by the betrayal committed by those who called themselves ‘national-minded patriots’.

The entire mechanism of the Party and the People’s Movement was subsequently placed at the service of the Cypriot state to address the deep wounds of the devastation caused by the Turkish invasion.

And even before the fires of the invasion had died down, AKEL highlighted the need to resolve the Cyprus problem through political and diplomatic means in order to put an end to the occupation and reunite our people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, within the framework of a Bi-zonal, Bi-communal, Federal state.

AKEL remains steadfastly committed to this goal, without any deviation whatsoever, whilst at the same time promoting the strengthening of relations between the two communities through its policy of rapprochement, which is a political initiative developed and promoted by the Left.

AKEL has supported the country’s reconstruction with all its might, playing a decisive role in setting it on the path to progress and economic development, so that its people may enjoy dignity and prosperity. A strong economy in the years that followed and the prosperity of our citizens have always been high on our political agenda.

A central chapter in the history of AKEL is its struggles and contributions to the gains won by the working class, in which our Party has played a decisive role. It was on the Party’s initiative that the class-based trade union movement was organised and developed, and it was through our Party’s close cooperation with it that, following hard-fought struggles and sustained efforts, the rights and benefits now enjoyed by workers were secured.

Even those who do not vote for us recognise that AKEL is the party that fights for the just causes and rights of working people. And from this platform, we assure every worker in this country, whatever their political affiliation, that we will continue to do so. That is to say, we will fight for dignity in the lives and work of every worker in Cyprus.

The movement of educational, cultural and sports associations takes up a distinct chapter in the history of our Party. Through these Local Clubs, AKEL and the Left more broadly created opportunities for ordinary people in education, culture and sport, at a time when a large section of society did not have such opportunities. It is a badge of honour in our Party’s history that, through the Local Clubs of the People’s Movement, great figures in the fields of culture and sport emerged, whilst thousands of people gained an education that they would otherwise not have been able to obtain.

The Party’s contribution to society in local government also occupies a prominent place in its history. Through this engagement, AKEL has promoted and implemented innovative and pioneering policies for the benefit of society: on housing, the environment, the enhancement of cultural and sporting activities, the creation of infrastructures, urban town-planning development and the strengthening of the very institution of local government itself.

Comrades,

Friends,

We do not claim that, throughout its hundred years of existence, AKEL has made no mistakes or that it has been free of shortcomings, inadequacies and failures. Far from it. However, we are the only Party that, transparently and publicly, has engaged in self-criticism regarding what we have recognised as mistakes.

We can, however, state with certainty that, throughout its hundred-year history, AKEL has always acted with full awareness of its responsibility as a mass and responsible Party towards our country and our people.

AKEL has always stood up for the good of our Cyprus – even in instances where we didn’t have the responsibility or where we disagreed with policies, actions and decisions taken by others that led our country down a rocky path.

This is precisely what we did, for example, in the case of the Zurich–London Agreements, with which we had disagreed. Our disagreement, however, did not prevent us from working towards their implementation, whilst at the same time striving to achieve Cyprus’s full independence.

We subsequently supported President Makarios with all our might, even though AKEL’s choice in the first presidential elections of 1959 had been a different candidate, and despite the fact that AKEL members – and the Left in general – were victims of adverse discrimination at the hands of the para-state apparatus created by the Right. We did so consciously, because we knew that by defending the legitimate President at that time, we were defending Cyprus itself.

During the colonial period, AKEL operated with the same patriotic approach. When the Right and the Ethnarchists tried to exclude AKEL from the anti-colonial struggle and fought against it in every possible way, our Party responded with policies of unity and joint action without, unfortunately, ever receiving a commensurate response.

And when its members and supporters were murdered by Grivas’s masked men during the EOKA struggle, AKEL responded with composure and prudence, so as to prevent the outbreak of a civil war, which would have led to bloodshed and catastrophic consequences for the future of our country.

These are just a few examples of the responsibility, seriousness and patriotism that AKEL has demonstrated throughout its hundred-year history.

Friends,

As I said at the very beginning of my speech, centenary celebrations are not limited to expressing pride in our history. We honour the past, but even more important are the present and the future.

That is precisely why AKEL is always at the heart of developments. For in every historical period, it places at the centre of its policy the task of addressing the challenges and issues facing our country, as well as resolving the problems faced by working people and society.

AKEL does not limit itself to opposing everything that degrades society and demeans people and workers. AKEL is not a protest party. It is a party of proposals and of action to implement them. It is a party that seeks common ground and makes compromises for the greater good, but which does not hesitate – when necessary – to defend its principles and policies on its own. On many occasions, various groups have attempted to isolate us but have failed, because AKEL remains strong by building bridges with society.

AKEL adapts to the demands of each era, but does not compromise its character, identity and principles. It enriches its ideology through objective reality and developments without abandoning it.

These are the key characteristics of AKEL’s actions that have helped it to grow into a mass movement and play a pivotal role in our country. This is the main reason why it remains a major force today, retaining its vitality and vision. This was demonstrated by the result we achieved in the recent parliamentary elections. It is these characteristics that enable it, through its overall presence, to turn history into the future.

Our Party’s centenary is only the beginning.

In these difficult and contradictory times we are facing, AKEL is once again making its presence felt through its political influence and actions, so that we may safeguard the security and progress of our country and citizens.

It is with deep sadness that we note that, in the face of these developments and challenges, the Government of Nikos Christodoulides lacks a comprehensive plan to address them. It has failed to provide solutions to serious issues, whilst, in the run-up to the 2028 Presidential Elections, it has further intensified its practice of prioritising the public relations management of issues rather than addressing them substantively.

Our country needs a change of course. And for this course to change, the major problems and challenges facing our country must be resolved.

Of course, the key issue for this change of course remains the solution of the Cyprus problem. Without an end to the Turkish occupation and the reunification of our homeland and our people, we cannot achieve lasting security and peace. Nor can we fully make use of the opportunities and prospects that lie ahead of us.

That is why we will continue to fight for a solution to the Cyprus problem, always consistent to the agreed basis for a Bizonal, Bi-communal Federation with political equality, and with a specific plan for how we can break the deadlock in which we have found ourselves since 2017. The continuation of the Turkish occupation poses even greater danger, given the situation in our wider region. In these conditions, the Christodoulides Government’s foreign policy’s obsessive attachment to the US and Israel exposes us to great dangers and makes our country a target.

The broader situation also necessitates the protection of our land from its mass sale to nationals of third countries. This dangerous phenomenon must be brought to an end. Limits must be set, and there must be oversight and transparency. This is the aim of the two bill proposals we have tabled in Parliament.

Our country is also exposed to great dangers in the critical sectors of energy, water, the environment and waste management.

These are sectors that demand far-sighted policies and sustainable planning. The last two governments did not do what was required. Not only did they fail to invest in the necessary infrastructures and policies in good time – with the result that today we risk being left without electricity and water and drowning in rubbish – but their decisions have also plunged us into a maelstrom of scandals currently under investigation by the EU.

Institutional entanglement/interwoven interests and corruption are also major problems; these reached unprecedented levels during the Anastasiades–DISY era and continue to run rampant under the current government. The rule of law has been eroded, as institutions that ought to be independent are being manipulated and weaponised to cover up corruption and prevent those guilty from being brought to justice.

All this is causing palpable disillusionment amongst large sections of society, which often turns into anger. Anger fuelled by the high cost of living, the housing crisis, inadequate incomes, the pressing needs of households and the lack of prospects for the young generation. This anger is fuelled by policies that exacerbate inequalities and increase economic insecurity, as they concentrate wealth in the hands of a privileged few and expose the masses to the danger of poverty. AKEL is struggling tirelessly, both inside and outside Parliament, for the dignity of the people and workers: for wages and collective agreements, for dignified pensions, for the taxation of wealth and exorbitant profits, for the protection of the primary residence, and for a genuine welfare state in our country.

AKEL is called upon, once again in its history, to undertake a crucial task: the task of progressive change. It is called upon to lead the struggles to tackle the major and complex challenges facing the country and society. And it will do so guided by its patriotic and people-centred policies, drawing on its wealth of experience.

At this juncture, as a century-long cycle comes to an end, we choose to speak of the future: Together with society for change.

This is our guiding principle as we continue on our path, with the crucial battle of the 2028 presidential elections as our key milestone.

It is our firm belief that, in the run-up to the next presidential elections, a majority social movement can be forged to bring about progressive change. We are working to formulate this majority movement.

Naturally, many people are wondering – as we often read in the media too – which candidate our Party will put forward. Allow me to turn the question around and make it clear what is NOT an option for us:

• A candidate that does not prioritise a solution to the Cyprus problem on the agreed basis and within the agreed framework is not an option.
• A candidate that would serve the current model of governance, in which the prosperity of economic numerical figures takes precedence over the needs of citizens, is not an option.
• A candidate that would serve the interests of the few, perpetuating the shadows of corruption and entanglement that have marred both the Anastasiades–DISY administration and the Christodoulides administration, is not an option.

Comrades,

Friends,

AKEL has now successfully completed a full hundred years of struggle, during which we have achieved and won so much for our Cyprus and its people.

We achieved these victories through great effort, perseverance, struggle, hard work and, on many occasions, bloody sacrifice.

We have moved forward with faith in the people and in the power of collective action, remaining true to our principles and committed to the values of democracy and peace, and to our human-centred vision of socialism.

We continue on our path for the next hundred years. Because every time our people join hands over the barbed wires of division, every time working people stand up for their rights, every time a young person takes up the struggle, every time society rises up against injustice, that is where the hundred-year history of AKEL lives on in full vigour.

It is there that hope stretches out once more towards the future.

We continue on the streets of struggle, turning history into the future.