On the necessity of the Left today
Article by Andros Kyprianou, General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL
20th September 2016, Nicosia
On the occasion of the lawsuit filed by M. Neophytou an attempt is underway to transmit the message that the Left in Cyprus is “bankrupt”; that it is no different than other parties implicated in corruption scandals and interwoven interests; that its social role has disappeared.
Wiser from the past, we will not become involved in issues that are before the courts. I hope the whole truth will shine through. I wish the media will present the case to the end and not suddenly stop presenting it when the crown witnesses complete their testimonies. Their credibility will also be judged by their stance.
I will focus on the aspect of my introduction. What has the Left offered in Cyprus? What is the Cypriot Left today? Has it a future and a perspective? Does our country and people need it? Is it corrupt?
The foundation and struggle of the Left was a revolution in our country’s political and social life. Its actions and initiatives persuaded a significant section of the people that they had found an ally, a pioneering force in the struggle for a better life for workers, farmers and SME’s.
The Left in Cyprus was at the forefront of the struggle against colonialism and for Cyprus independence.
It struggled for workers, farmers, SME’s to gain rights.
It protected the poor against the immunity of the loan sharks and all kinds of exploiters.
It waged struggles to deliver the poor from the darkness of ignorance and assert their future on an equal footing.
It defended democracy and our homeland, having an army of heroes within its ranks who sacrificed their lives for this purpose.
On the ruins of the betrayal committed in the summer of 1974 AKEL stood upright spearheading the effort to rebuild the people’s lives and for better days to come. It too made its own contribution to put Cyprus back on its feet which is still suffering from the ongoing occupation. All these decades AKEL’s contribution has been enormous so that our country and people move forward.
It stood by the workers, farmers and small and medium strata helping them to secure better living standards, terms of employment and working conditions.
It waged struggles for our people to have better health care, education, social services and social welfare.
It fought for a fairer redistribution of national wealth in order to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor, and many other struggles.
Has AKEL ceased playing this role? Is it no longer necessary? Anything but that is the case. The vicious class policy promoted by the ruling circles of the European Union and the Anastasiades – DISY party government makes the presence of a strong Left in Cyprus even more imperative. In extremely difficult conditions AKEL is the main force that is resisting the anti-social policies being promoted by the neoliberal-conservative Anastasiades – DISY party government.
It is the force that defends the interests of workers, farmers, SME’s and immigrants.
It is the force that is combating racism and xenophobia; the force fighting for a just, functional and viable solution of the Cyprus problem.
We know that our principled stance and consistency disturbs many circles and forces who do let any opportunity go by to attempt to undermine and degrade AKEL. And I am certainly not referring to those who honestly and with real concern want to see the Cypriot Left rise above mistakes, weaknesses, interwoven interests and corruption.
Is the Left of Cyprus corrupt? Has it now no longer any reason to exist? It is a fact that until recently the political life in our country functioned according to different rules. In recent years, with the active participation of AKEL, much stricter rules concerning the financing and monitoring of political parties have been implemented. Legislation has been promoted regarding source of wealth and asset means declaration, as well as regarding incompatibility of interests. There is much greater transparency on all these matters. AKEL is the first party to submit its financial statements to the Registrar of Political Parties in recent years, simultaneously publishing them.
Are AKEL and its militants corrupt? I challenge and ask everyone to judge us on a one to one basis and all together. As for my person, I repeat that I am open to any scrutiny. Both I and my wife give access to all our accounts to anyone who wishes. The Left in Cyprus is today more necessary than ever before for our country and people. Not only has it the will, but also the ability to be at the forefront of political and social struggles. I assure the militants and members of AKEL and all the friends of the Left that we will fight to prove in practice that we can lead the country forward; that we can struggle for more social justice. For transparency, sincerity and honesty in political life.
Andros Kyprianou, General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL
