Interview with Nikos Ioannou, member of the Political Bureau and Secretariat of AKEL:

 

In the 9 June elections, AKEL is waging the battle with honest and capable people

Sunday 17 March 2024, “Haravgi” newspaper

QUESTION: A delegation of AKEL, headed by the General Secretary of the Party, recently visited the Peoples Republic of China. How useful are such visits?

NI: AKEL has maintained relations with the Communist Party of China even before the establishment of diplomatic relations between the states of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of Cyprus. The visit of the General Secretary of AKEL to China and the very important meetings we had with high-ranking Party and state officials are the result of the very strong friendly relations that have been developing particularly in recent years.

The PRC currently occupies a prominent position in the global economy, is a permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations and remains a steadfast and consistent supporter of the solution of the Cyprus problem, while economic and trade relations between Cyprus and China are constantly improving.

Consequently, the visit of the General Secretary of AKEL was primarily aimed at further consolidating the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

‘Relations between Cyprus and China could have been on a better level’

QUESTION: What is the level of relations between AKEL and the Communist Party of China, and between the Republic of Cyprus and the PRC?

NI: Relations between Cyprus and China could be at a better level if the Republic of Cyprus were not dependent on decisions of other decision-making centres such as the European Union, the USA and NATO.

It is obvious that there is an attempt on the part of the Americans to limit China’s global economic reach through actions and gestures reminiscent of the Cold War, at a time when China is extending a hand of friendship and cooperation to tackle the universal problems of ongoing wars, hunger, poverty and the protection of the environment.

Cyprus must seek to expand economic cooperation in the fields of green energy, innovation and tourism. Unfortunately, Cyprus’ presence and visibility in a country that is becoming a leading global economic power is inadequate.

AKEL is ready to help by making use of its stature, if the Cypriot government has the political will to do so.

QUESTION: Recently, the government announced measures to relieve citizens from poverty. The measures were considered to be in the right direction. But are they sufficient? Do they provide solutions to people’s problems?

Ni: Our first observation was that these measures have left out large groups of citizens who need support, such as recipients of Guaranteed Minimum Income, people with disabilities, pensioners and others.

Our second observation is that these are inadequate and limited measures. Therefore, it would be better for more deeper and long-term measures are taken that offer real support to those who need it.

QUESTION: What does AKEL propose, at least for the major economic problems people face?

NI: AKEL has long been elaborating and submitting specific and costed proposals to confront the problem of poverty. Among these, I would highlight, firstly, the taxation of the exorbitant profits of companies in the energy sector and the use of these revenues to support consumers.

Unfortunately, the government does not dare to touch these exorbitant profits. Secondly, AKERL proposes the reduction of VAT on electricity from 19% to 9%. Instead of adopting such a measure, the government has decided to abolish the EUR 350 annual tax for all companies. And the logical question arises: what are the costs of a EUR 350 annual fee for very large companies with a turnover of millions per year? If the government were to abolish this fee in a scaled manner, as AKEL had proposed, it would get for the state around €20 million from the large companies. It didn’t do so. Other than that, President Christodoulides repeats monotonously that he is supposedly protecting fiscal revenues.

QUESTION: The UN Secretary General’s personal envoy departs from Cyprus today. Do you have an update on the progress of her contacts and whether there is any glimmer of hope for the resumption of the negotiations?

NI: As you know, she met with the General Secretary of AKEL, where a discussion took place on how the negotiations can be resumed and to this end the General Secretary outlined AKEL’s proposal on how to break the deadlock and resume the dialogue with a positive perspective.

QUESTION: In two months we will have the European elections. What do you think AKEL’s prospects are?

NI: AKEL is campaigning in these elections with a strong and credible electoral list. With people who can stand up for Cyprus and the peoples of Europe. It is a gender-balanced electoral list, which continues the historic step taken in 2019 with the participation also of a Turkish Cypriot and represents the great alliance of the progressive forces of the country.

In both the local and European elections, AKEL will wage a political battle with people who are honest, capable and ready to fight for the Cyprus we deserve, for the Europe we want. Therefore, the conditions are in place for it to achieve its electoral goals and for people to be elected in local authorities and in the European Parliament who will work and assert, who have a vision and can put it into practice for the benefit of our country and society.

QUESTION: We are facing an ecclesiastical scandal of hitherto unknown dimensions. Has AKEL found support for its proposal to debate [the issue] in Parliament for the legislative regulation of the economic exploitation of people’s religious faith?

NI: AKEL was the first political party to react because of the unacceptable statements of the Minister of Justice, who was saying something along the lines that these are matters for the Church and the State…while he is following [developments] discreetly. And while he was saying this on 8 March, noting that the Police could not intervene, it was subsequently revealed that on 5 March the Police had accompanied a convoy of cars with thugs and hooded guards to transport the money box from the monastery to the Metropolis. We also note the presence of the Leader of the [far-right] ELAM party in proceedings that have already been denounced as illegal.

The question that arises is this: Is there a possibility that we are facing a multi-faceted scandal that may involve fraud, corruption, money laundering and violence, double-dealing, possible attempted tampering with evidence and a cover-up, and ultimately the inaction and negligence of the authorities may prove fatal to its resolution?

In such a case the political responsibilities will be great.

As part of parliamentary scrutiny, AKEL has registered two issues for debate in Parliament. One concerns the economic exploitation of believers and the need to discuss specific issues concerning, for example, illegal money collections and other issues that do not concern ecclesiastical law but the protection of citizens from fraudsters. The other issue that AKEL has included concerns the handling of the Police in this particular matter.