Regroup forces and defend of the people’s interests

Announcement of the C.C. of AKEL on the Presidential Elections

AKEL C.C. Press Office, Saturday 3 March 2018, Nicosia

At its session today, the Central Committee of AKEL discussed the recent Presidential Elections and assessed their results. The C.C. has formulated a document, which will be put before the Party members for discussion.

The C.C. of AKEL points out that the Presidential Elections took place at a very critical crossroad for Cyprus and our people. AKEL set in these elections the goal of putting an end to the anti-social presidency of N. Anastasiades and the realization of a progressive change with the election of Stavros Malas to the Presidency of the Republic.

Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to achieve this goal. Despite the failure to realize this electoral goal, the C.C. of AKEL considers that the Party has emerged politically and ethically stronger from the election process.

The Party waged the electoral struggle with sincerity, ethos, steadfastness and consistency to positions of principle, without any regressions and didn’t engage in any “give-and-take” deals. The electoral battle was waged with the Party united and rallied. The elections mobilized a large number of militants, members and friends of the Party, and the rallying of Party forces reached in the First and Second Round was extremely high.

Stavros Malas had a very successful presence in the election campaign and put his own stamp with sincerity, ethos and steadfastness in his positions.

With the reelection of Mr. Anastasiades, AKEL remains in the opposition. AKEL has quite big disagreements with the President with regards the way he handled the Cyprus problem, while as far as the government’s socio-economic policy is concerned, as well as the authoritarian way in which he exercises his power, an enormous gulf separates us.

Taking also into account the way the government and DISY are interpreting the electoral result as a “strong mandate” to continue with their policy, even more extreme and anti-social policies in the economy and society must be expected, and even greater arrogance and more authoritarianism in the way power will be exercised.

The opposition that AKEL will exercise will be very strict, but it will however remain responsible and objective. The serving of the public’s interest, the interests of working people and society in general will be a criterion in the Party’s stand towards the government. In relation to the Cyprus problem, AKEL will continue to work with all its strength to open up the prospect of a solution that will liberate and reunite our country and people.

The C.C. of AKEL expresses its determination to work to make use of the positive elements that have emerged from the difficult electoral effort in order to upgrade the Party’s relations with society, to become better, more effective and more decisive in its struggles and intervention. For AKEL to be able to fulfill this task, it will focus and pay special attention to addressing weaknesses and improving itself.

A powerful AKEL is a guarantee for the success of our people’s struggles, both for our liberation from the Turkish occupation and the reunification of our country, as well as for addressing the manifold problems faced by the Cyprus economy and society.