Cyprus needs to change course with policies that will benefit the many, not the privileged few

Statement by the General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL A. Kyprianou

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 22nd May 2019, Nicosia

The Presidential Palace and ruling Democratic Rally DISY party, realizing that their insulting attacks against AKEL are not convincing the people, have pulled back. They are trying to overlook all the insulting statements they made over the past few days and are pointing to the work they have supposedly done.

What is the work their government has done that AKEL is nullifying which Anastasiades and DISY are proud of?

Is it the pre-election “pledges” made by the President of the Republic and his Ministers that are forgotten the day after elections?

Is it the appointment of one of the “excellent of the excelled” Rikos Erotokritou to the post of Assistant Attorney General?

Is it perhaps the undermining of democratic institutions and Independent Agencies?

Is it the interventions by law firms in the administration of justice?

Is it the tributes to the Minister of Finance, who is under scrutiny for the mismanagement and dismantling of the Cyprus Cooperation Bank and who chooses whether and when to resign?

Is it the 8 billion Euros that the government has burdened Cypriot taxpayers with in order to sell off the Coop Bank to its friends?

Is it the fact that thousands of our fellow citizens find it difficult to meet their basic financial obligations, are worried whether their reduced salary will be enough to see them through the month and are struggling to pay for the high rent, fuel, expensive bills and so many other things?

Is the loss of the safeguarding of the Cypriot “haloumi” cheese brand which the responsible Minister blamed on his employees?

Is it its anti-Education reform policy and the crisis in Education?

Is it the nationalist positions in the educational programs of a government that otherwise gives the impression that it disagrees with the far-right?

Is it the disorganization of the Police force and the shame of the institutional racism of Mr. Anastasiades himself too, which was demonstrated in the case of the confessed serial killer?

Is it the growth of a casino-based economy without productive results that promote speculation and raise real estate prices sky high leaving couples and families without the chance of acquiring a home?

Is it the sale of primary family homes and small business premises as a result of the laws approved in Parliament by DISY together with the votes of DIKO and ELAM?

Is it the international humiliation Cyprus has witnessed as a result of the ‘golden passports’ scheme and the business of granting citizenship to persons prosecuted by their countries for committing financial crimes?

Is it the enrichment of certain offices of the President’s relatives, friends and cronies from this business?

Is it the sharing of billions of Euros in profits among a small group and their channeling to who knows what tax havens?

Is it the scandalous buying and selling of plots of the Archdiocese?

Is it the renaming of the property “bubble” and “get-rich-quick” policy as “investments in growth”?

Is it perhaps the extremely expensive skyscrapers that are being constructed without any environmental studies for the sake of recording some incidental growth?

What the government ruling forces and DISY must understand is that citizens state their dissatisfaction with them not because AKEL is criticizing them, but because they themselves have let them down; because they have proved all through these six years in power that every time elections are near they promise the earth, employ the Cabinet to make announcements, to convince the people by making numerous pledges which are forgotten completely the day after the election.

AKEL doesn’t oppose the Anastasiades-DISY government for the sake of opposition. AKEL exerts criticism, puts forward positions and submits proposals because it reflects the agony and aspirations of the majority of Cypriot society that things need to change, both in Cyprus and Europe.

The Cyprus problem must again take the path of solution. The prospect of the reunification of our country must once again come to life.

The economy’s growth must be put on a firm footing, be based on a long-term strategy and beneficial to the many.

Cyprus needs to change course with policies that will benefit the many, not the privileged few and offer hope that we can live better both in Cyprus and Europe.