On the President’s press conference
Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 8th April 2020, Nicosia
We expect to be fully informed of what the government has decided.
We note that the extension of the measures to protect public health is necessary because of the continuation of the coronavirus pandemic. Public health is paramount!
It is positive that the government has decided to continue the package of measures providing support to working people and businesses. It was also our position that the support measures by the state must last for a longer period and this is the philosophy characterising the proposal for support measures AKEL submitted to the government.
Of course, the support package needs to be improved, corrected and complemented with new measures to address the problems and weaknesses it has, such as the question of the rents for small and medium-sized enterprises.
In relation to the repatriation of Cypriot students and citizens abroad, we note the expansion of the relevant criteria. However, the need remains for the scheme to cover the prospect of a gradual repatriation of those Cypriot students and citizens who wish to do so.
Criticism of ruling DISY party
We are not surprised that even before the President’s press conference ended, DISY issued a statement attacking AKEL. As DISY is feels exposed because of the various things it stated and did during the difficult period we are going through, it chose to launch a preemptive attack using its favourite method of lying, with for example DISY suggesting that AKEL supposedly wants to get its hands on the Providence Funds. This is anything but true. Those who have dipped their hands in the Providence Funds are the government ruling forces themselves with the imposition of the haircut on bank deposits.
We will not follow DISY in sliding down the road of lies. People are watching and can distinguish who is seriously trying to help and who is using the crisis to win points by engaging in communication games.
