Let’s all join together to bring the change we want to come. Stavros Malas is the hope of the many
Statement by the General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL A. Kyprianou
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 2 February 2018, Nicosia
On Sunday voters will have two candidates to choose from.
One of the choices before them is Mr. Anastasiades. Mr. Anastasiades has nothing more to offer.
He was the one who in 2013 made that pledge to the voters that he wouldn’t proceed to the haircut on bank deposits and then betrayed their trust with the greatest of ease.
He is the one who used lies to leave the talks in Mont Peleran.
He is the one who knew that the Turkish Cypriot side withdrew the maps on the territorial issue from December, but kept it secret until yesterday.
He is the one who usurped the people’s vote by stating on the eve of the 2013 Presidential Elections that he has two transnational loans ready that will give him the possibility of bringing a better Memorandum.
He is the one who pledged not to haircut bank deposits, that he would not cut pensions and the student welfare package, that he would strengthen the welfare state, create and generate jobs, not proceed to any privatizations and that he would combat and stamp out bureaucracy.
He did not fulfill any of these commitments.
He is the one who as soon as he was elected, forgot all the pledges and imposed policies of austerity and poverty.
He is the one who betrayed the trust of those who elected him by appointing to high-ranking positions those who supported him during the pre-election campaign, baptizing them as “the excellent of the excellent”. It was he who was exposed irreparably due to the actions and performance of his own Ministers. The example of Justice Minister Mr. Ionas Nikolaou alone stands out.
He is the one who was exposed several times with the financial transactions of his family, just before the haircut on bank deposits, with the purchases of plots by the Archbishop, with his presence in Court as a witness to the defense of Deputy Attorney General of the Republic Mr. Erotokritou in a case involving bribery, conspiracy to defraud, corruption and misuse of power.
It is during his own Administration where we have seen institutions humiliated to the extent that the Attorney General was forced to declare “Shame!” (to the President).
It is he who the people on numerous occasions have to this day caught not telling the truth and losing control, who has disappointed the people every day more and more, but who doesn’t lose one bit from the megalomania and arrogance of power.
It is he and his government that are increasing the chaos of social inequality, the gap between the rich and the poor, while at the same time still persisting in attempting to persuade that everything is all well and good.
The other choice before the people is Stavros Malas. A young man who does not try to deceive citizens, but tries to persuade them. A candidate who does not promise everything to everyone, but has a programme of governance and realistic proposals for the Cyprus of tomorrow. A sincere, honest and trustworthy Presidential candidate.
Stavros Malas is the hope of the many. He is the one who can pave the way for a solution of the Cyprus problem and reunification. He is he who can realize in practice the vision for change. For the protection of those in need, for dignified and quality jobs. With a welfare state that will protect those in need. For a different Cyprus that will be moving forward with progressive reforms and radical changes, with transparency, meritocracy and growth for all. Stavros Malas will combat established interests. He will put in the past once and for all the mentality of the government ruling forces who command that “whoever is not with us is our enemy.”
In this crucial struggle for the future of our country, we call on everyone and those who talked during this whole period about the need for Anastasiades governance to go to join forces with us to achieve our common goal.
Let’s all join together to bring the change we want to come.
Let us all unite around the future, to take Cyprus forward with Stavros Malas.
Replies of the General Secretary of AKEL to journalists’ questions
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 2nd February 2018, Nicosia
How comes you are so confident that our side knew about the maps, but concealed the fact?
AK: The UN Spokesman Mr. Aleem Siddique said this.
Because the government and the Greek Cypriot negotiator Mr. Mavroyiannis and the Government Spokesman have stated otherwise.
AK: You know, Mr. Siddique yesterday in his statement said that a request was submitted and was accepted, and that the Greek Cypriot side was briefed on all the developments. Mr. Siddique’s statement is quite clear.
Foreign Minister Mr. Kasoulides admitted yesterday that he knew since October, or November he said, he doesn’t remember exactly when this thing would happen. Why didn’t they put forth a demand or make a representation to the United Nations? Mr. Mavroyiannis fifteen days ago met the United Nations Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Mr. Jeffrey Feltman. Why didn’t he say anything about this specific issue?
Mr. Siddique’s statement was very clear. Let them come and state that the UN are lying. Why don’t they say this if they think they are correct in what they say? In any case, DISY Press Spokesman Mr. Prodromos told us last week that the UN Secretary-General is lying about the Crans Montana talks. Is this the government’s position towards the UN Secretary-General Mr. Guterres? Let them come out to tell the Cypriot people sincerely if this is their position.
In your view, is it clear that our side’s opinion was really needed to withdraw the map?
There is no such need, but here’s the bizarre thing. It definitely isn’t needed. When we withdrew our positions, did we require the approval of the Turkish Cypriot side?
Because the map is a different issue…
I don’t think our own consent was required. It’s their own proposals, they have the right to do what they want. From then onwards I repeat. For us, the important thing is that the government knew, did not tell us anything, and if we didn’t go public with the issue we wouldn’t know anything. On the contrary, Mr. Anastasiades yesterday during the TV debate presented as a feat that a map was submitted on the territorial issue and that there was a convergence in two of the three criteria. He presented it as an achievement at the same time as he knew that maps no longer existed. The things they are saying are a mockery for the Cypriot people.
