Introductory speech by the General Secretary of AKEL Stefanos Stefanou at the Plenary of the Central Committee on the theme:

 

“Assessment of the 2026 Parliamentary Elections”

27 June 2026, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

Comrades,

The Plenary Session of the Party’s Central Committee has convened today to assess the results of the recent parliamentary elections held on 24 May 2026. And of course, along with assessing the results, we will evaluate how the Party and political landscape has evolved and define the primary tasks facing the Party.

The election result we achieved represents the fulfilment of the electoral goal we had set as the Central Committee at the Central Committee plenary session on 27 September 2025. More  specifically, we succeeded in strengthening the Party’s electoral strength compared to the 2021 parliamentary elections, when we received 22.3%. In last May’s elections, AKEL – Left – Social Alliance increased its electoral strength by 1.6% and 9,000 votes, reaching 24% and retaining the 15 seats it held in the previous legislative term.

This result represents a major electoral success, especially when taking into account that the Party had to contend with the perception—which various circles have fostered in many ways among a significant section of society—that “the political parties are all the same.” This perception leads to the discrediting of political parties and politics in the minds of a section of society, and this situation inevitably has a negative impact on our Party as well.

AKEL also had to contend with a record number of participating parties and candidates. Nevertheless, our Party managed to achieve the electoral goal it had set, strengthen its ties with society, and look to the future with optimism.

It is important to stress that AKEL had the highest turnout of its own electoral base our of all parties in the recent elections —over 80%—while in all opinion polls since the start of the election campaign, the Party’s voters were the most certain and determined in their voting intentions. This finding is not merely quantitative—in terms of electoral results—but qualitative and, above all, political, as it demonstrates a strong political and values-based alignment between our voter base and the Party and its policies.

Particularly encouraging is also the finding from exit polls that were conducted showing a trend towards AKEL among first-time voters—that is to say, those voting for the very first time in parliamentary elections—while AKEL saw a significant upward trend among voters under the age of 30. This confirms that, while we are a Party with a hundred-year old history of struggles, we can—through our policies and values—express ourselves, inspire, and mobilize the young generation, and indeed look to the future with optimism.

Beyond the electoral aspect, the result of May 24 is, first and foremost, a pivotal political victory for the Left and the broader progressive movement in Cyprus. We have confirmed that in Cyprus, the Left was, is, and will continue to be a leading force, and that within the House of Representatives there will be a strong force defending the interests of the people, the country’s progress, and the well-being of society.

At the same time, a message of optimism and hope was sent internationally to the forces of the Left, which enthusiastically welcomed AKEL’s electoral success.

It should also be noted that during the subsequent election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Party once again emerged politically stronger, as it demonstrated reliability and consistency in its principled positions. AKEL’s decision to field its General Secretary for the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to reject any backroom deals or choices that would have undermined it politically, as we had unanimously decided here in the Central Committee plenary, conveyed a strong message of the Left’s self-confidence and reaffirmed the Party as the force of the opposition, as the progressive and democratic pole of the country.

Comrades,

The parliamentary elections are now history. We celebrated the result, which admittedly sparked feelings of enthusiasm and self-confidence among our people, but we are not getting stuck in the past – nor are we becoming complacent.

We asked the people to cast their vote for a strong AKEL so that we can continue to serve our Cyprus and people vigorously, tenaciously, and effectively. To serve working people, the young generation, the vulnerable groups of the population, and society as a whole. We have received this strong mandate, and we are continuing our work right where we never stopped.

In a situation where a large section of society is struggling to make ends meet, suffering, and in distress due to expensiveness, the high cost of living, insufficient incomes, the housing crisis, and energy poverty, as well as ongoing economic and social insecurity, our Party is called upon to continue its struggles on behalf of society.

Our Party will continue its work as the powerful opposition force against government and any party policies that concentrate wealth in the hands of a privileged few and leave crumbs for the many.

AKEL – Left – Social Alliance will continue to wage its battles both inside and outside Parliament on behalf of the many and the underprivileged against policies that serve the few and the privileged.

AKEL will continue to fight against institutional entanglement, interwoven interests, collusion and corruption, which have reached unprecedented levels under the Anastasiades–DISY government.

As for the Christodoulides government, despite its proclamations of zero tolerance for corruption, not only is it failing to take action to change the situation by restoring the rule of law and institutional integrity, but it is continuing along the same path. This, at least, is what we witnessed firsthand in the “Videogate” case; this is what we pointed out from the imposition of non-transparency surrounding the Fund managed by the wife of the President of the Republic.

AKEL will steadfastly continue its policy of zero tolerance and no contacts or cooperation with the far right. Even if we stand alone on this front, we will resolutely and systematically continue to dismantle the dangerous ideological notions of the far right and expose the role of the far-right ELAM party who acts as a reserve force for the system, the right wing, and the Christodoulides government.

We shall also seek to broaden the alliances and the front against fascism, with forces and people beyond the spectrum of the Left.

AKEL – Left – Social Alliance will intensify its parliamentary and grassroots initiatives based on the socioeconomic agenda we put forward before the election regarding the major issues of cost of living, labour and pension issues, housing, the taxation of wealth, banking abuses, and more. With the new AKEL – Left-Social Alliance Parliamentary Group at the forefront, and together with the Central Committee’s Auxiliary Policy Bureaus and the mass organizations of the People’s Movement of the Left, we will continue our pre-election campaign with the assumption of post-election initiatives.

We are always among the people and do not remember them only when elections are coming up. That is precisely why we have already drawn up a plan for a new course of action toward society, just as we have done in all previous years.

We have decided to organise a broad campaign reaching out to the people during September, October, and November, including visits to residential areas, gatherings at local community centres, associations, and at workplaces, as well as the holding of open rallies and events. Our Members of Parliament, our elected representatives in local government, the entire mechanism/network of our mass organizations of the Left—both full-time and volunteer—and the Social Alliance will actively participate in this process.

In light of the developments surrounding the Cyprus problem, the Party will continue to stand consistently and resolutely by its proven correct policy and line regarding the solution. AKEL is the strong force capable of standing up to any attempts to dismantle the negotiation acquis or scenarios involving NATO’s intervention on the Cyprus problem.

Most importantly, AKEL is the force that has the influence, the knowledge, and the will to drive developments in the direction towards a solution that will put an end to the Turkish occupation and reunite our country and people—Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. To this end, and depending on how events will unfold, we will take initiatives to promptly inform and mobilize society—a plan for which has already been drawn up by the Cyprus Problem Office of the Party’s Central Committee.

The election results have confirmed not only AKEL as the powerful force of the opposition, but also as the strong pole for the formation of a broad progressive front aimed at bringing about progressive change in our country.

AKEL and the Left are the backbone and the main pillar of the country’s progressive movement and have a historic responsibility to do everything in their power to form the social majority that will bring about progressive change in the governance of the country in the 2028 Presidential Elections. This is our strategic goal.

We must work hard, with the Social Alliance at our side, to rally and unite all the forces that are dissatisfied with the current situation. We must unite all those who envision something different, something better for Cyprus and our society—all those who cannot bear to see Cyprus plagued by entanglement and corruption, plagued by the inequalities and poverty to which so many people are exposed to.

Let us join forces with all those who refuse to accept that our young people are the most stressed in Europe and are unable to fulfil their dreams of starting a family and a home.

Let us join forces with all those who dream of a prosperous society and a united and free Cyprus.

For progressive change, we will continue to work, drawing on the momentum of our hundred-year history and the experience of our hard-fought, heroic, patriotic, and class-based struggles.

We are moving forward with determination, our eyes fixed on the future. The hundred years of our glorious history are only the beginning!

To turn history into the future!

A future of hope. For Cyprus and our people.