On the pandemic, its socio-economic consequences and the Party’s activity in these conditions
Statement by the Political Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 11th April 2020, Nicosia
The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of AKEL met yesterday, Friday, 10th April, via teleconference, to review the situation in our country as it has evolved due to the coronavirus pandemic, its socio-economic consequences, as well as the Party’s activity in these conditions.
The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of AKEL stresses that in these conditions the principal concern must be the public health system, the health of our people. As humanity is waiting for the scientific community in particular to develop a vaccine against the virus, what takes precedence is on the one hand the implementation of measures to stop the spread of the virus and on the other rescuing people’s lives and treating the sick.
The public health system represents for our country, but also for every country in the world, the main and most effective weapon against the pandemic. Now, everyone acknowledges the irreplaceable role of the public health system and the contribution of healthcare workers and doctors working in it. However, today the shortcomings and problems the public health system and public hospitals are facing, as a result of the policies of underfunding, understaffing and defamation, are becoming more and more dramatically apparent. We very deliberately choose not to enter into this discussion at this particular time. After all, the people know very well who is responsible for these problems and how disapprovingly they were talking about the public health system and healthcare workers and doctors.
AKEL continues to call for the immediate channeling of all the necessary resources for the provision of far-reaching support towards public hospitals. This would represent an essential expression of gratitude towards healthcare workers and doctors and all hospital staff, as well as practical support for the protection of the public health system.
It is clear that the coronavirus pandemic is provoking a global economic crisis whose depth and dimensions cannot yet be calculated. From the very first moment, AKEL put hundreds of its militants and members at the disposal of state services to contribute towards providing help to the vulnerable groups of the population.
At the same time, we submitted specific proposals to the government to support towards workers, households, self-employed people, businesses and especially SME’s, farmers and people engaged in agriculture, borrowers, culture, education, the tackling of the problem with rents and other issues too.
We also tabled a comprehensive and well-documented proposal for the finding of the necessary resources by the state so that it will be able to provide support to workers, households and the economy. We are convinced that in the phase we are going through, households and businesses do not need new loans from banks, but substantial support from the state.
Some of our proposals have been adopted by the government, others not. In any case, AKEL with responsibility towards the people and our country, will continue submitting proposals – well substantiated and serious – seeking to contribute towards confronting the pandemic and its consequences.
The Political Bureau of AKEL addresses a militant greeting to our people, to all citizens and calls on them to continue the battle against the coronavirus with mutual respect and solidarity.
We are confident that together we will come through again!
