Not one, but many of the President’s pledges have been broken

Statement of Georgos Loucaides, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 11th March 2016, Nicosia

 

In the interview he gave last night, the President of the Republic challenged everyone to say what other pledge he broke, apart from the haircut on bank deposits.

It’s true that Mr. Anastasiades made many pledges during the presidential election campaign. Indeed back then to convince the people that he really meant what he said he stated with self-confidence the following in an interview he gave on New Year’s Day 2013: In a year things will get better, I do make promises, but pledge! We stress, to avoid any misunderstandings, that it was the New Year and not April fool’s Day!

Let’s refresh the President’s memory with some of the many pre-election pledges he made that have never been fulfilled:

1. The President made a written pledge that he will not proceed with any privatizations. The government and ruling forces have already proceeded to do so with the Semi-governmental Cyprus Ports Authority. They did not manage to do so with the Cyprus Electricity Authority. They are publicly stating through the Finance Minister that even if the draft Bills tabled for the privatization of the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority are rejected by the House of Representatives they will bring them back after the parliamentary elections.

2. He pledged that he had two intergovernmental loans ready.

3. He pledged that he would renegotiate the terms of the Memorandum to the benefit of working people.

4. He pledged that under no circumstances would he promote anti-social measures and impose new taxes.

5. He pledged that banks will lengthen the repayment period of loans, but that he could also persuade the Eurozone to temporarily postpone the payment of installments by the unemployed or anyone else without an income.

6. He pledged that as far as the allocation of the state budget is concerned, one percent, that is to say EUR 75 million, will go towards policies for young people in the fields of youth entrepreneurship, employment, further education and training.

7. He pledged that he would implement as a first emergency measure for students the special enhancement of the student welfare package.

8. He pledged that he would not permit cuts in pensions.

9. He pledged that regarding the Natural Gas he will create a state company, but eventually he abolished the Cyprus State Hydrocarbons Company (KRETYK). He pledged that he will take immediate political decisions for the establishment of an underwater pipeline, as well as for the operation of a Land Liquefaction natural gas terminal.

10. He pledged to promote the General Health Scheme and to make use of the work done during the previous years by the Health Insurance Agency, as well as to promote the immediate implementation of a restructuring of public hospitals.

I have mentioned ten of the many pledges that have not been fulfilled. I could go on for a long time to refer to pledges that unfortunately have never been kept. However, to conclude with something that is not serious as a pledge, the President of the Republic pledged that within the first six months in office he would also build a cable car system for the Troodos Mountain.