Pensioners suffocate while the government watches passively
The General Secretary of AKEL: “Citizens to elect a person with sensitivities at the helm of our country”
2 November 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
The General Secretary of AKEL Stefanos Stefanou conveyed the message to citizens to act, to vote correctly in the presidential elections so we can “change this government, put an end to the DISY governance, elect at the helm of the country a person with sensitivities, but also with policies that will help society”, underlining that “this person is Andreas Mavroyiannis”.
In his statements after a meeting with pensioners and pensioners on low pensions at the 1974 refugees settlement in the Municipality of Dromolaxia, Stefanos Stefanou referred to the suffocating problems of poverty for many people, which are becoming even more difficult for people on low incomes and pensions and the 1974 refuges. He recalled AKEL’s proposals that were approved in legislation, but this government is passively following what is developing and noted meaningfully that “we do not expect this government to do anything. The most important thing is for citizens to take action and do something.”
The General Secretary of AKEL referred to the discussion he had with pensioners, noting that the problems that were raised had to do with the daily struggle to ensure that households and families meet their basic needs. Here too, as he pointed out, we have the problems of people on low pensions and incomes, as well as the additional problems arising due to the refugee situation. “Various issues are being highlighted that AKEL has placed at the forefront of its assertions,” he underlined.
The first is the 12% penalty on those seeking to retire at 63. There are people who do not choose to retire early, but are forced to do so and we are penalising them with the 12% penalty charge so that the already low pension becomes even lower. It is at times like this that the issue becomes particularly topical. AKEL’s position is to end the 12% penalty and once this issue of principle is resolved, we should discuss how to improve the efficiency and better value of the pension system and Social Insurance Fund with a series of actions that must be taken. But we must start with the basics: namely by ending the 12% penalty.
Secondly, our discussion revolved around expensiveness, the high cost of living and measures that should have already been taken by the government to provide relief to households and small and medium-sized enterprises. It is well known that on the initiative taken by AKEL, Parliament approved a number of decisions – such as to reduce VAT on electricity and to abolish the double taxation on fuel – but unfortunately the government is refusing to respond to the demand of society and small businesses for the necessary relief from price hikes.
AKEL has also raised a number of issues relating to super and windfall profits, which are quite a lot. These profits should have been taxed in order to boost the state’s coffers so that it can help society in a targeted way. AKEL has passed two bills through Parliament while the government continues to passively follow the whole situation.
The most important thing in this situation is to be socially sensitive. That is to demonstrate sensitivity to the problems people are facing. This government has been in power for 10 years and has convinced us that it has no such sensitivity. On the contrary, it constantly serves the interests of the privileged few and leaves the many who need state assistance on the sidelines.
“We do not expect this government to do anything. The most important thing is for the people to take action and do something,” he concluded: Namely, to vote correctly in the presidential election so we can change this government, to put an end to the DISY party administration and to elect a person at the helm of the country with sensitivities, but also with policies that will help the society. That person is Andreas Mavroyiannis.
