Speech by the General Secretary of AKEL A.Kyprianou at the presentation of the candidates for the 2019 European elections

February 2019

I welcome and thank you all very much for your presence here.

We will be waging a political battle of dual importance.

The cohesion of the European Union, the cohesion of European societies, hence of Cypriot society too, will depend on the results of the European elections.

The European elections will either strengthen or weaken the voice of each and every one of us in Europe. They will either give an impetus for another course in the domestic life of the country, or they will leave things static.

Things must change, both in Europe and in Cyprus.

The monetary union is being shaken.

The North-South gap is widening.

Growth rates are slowing down.

Social resistance is intensifying.

Inequalities have assumed explosive dimensions.

The purchasing power of households is collapsing.

Poverty threatens to marginalize increasingly more and more sections of the population.

Labour relations are being systematically deregulated.

Social rights are being undermined on a mass scale.

Individual freedoms are being curbed.

Democracy itself is increasingly being plunged into an unprecedented crisis.

Racism and xenophobia are growing.

Insecurity prevails.

Populism is on the attack.

Fascism is reviving after its defeat in World War II.

We are at the end of a dead-end policy that was imposed by of neoliberalism’s dominance.

All this enabled the ultra-right and neo-fascism to raise its head in Europe and Cyprus. Demagogy and the supposedly “anti-systemic” profile are its biggest weapon.

This has been demonstrated in the case of our country as well.

They play the same role in Cyprus too as their like-minded associates throughout Europe. Thuggery, xenophobia, racism, populism, hatred and violence against the weak. This is what they are really like. No matter how much they disguise themselves today, as a result of the murderous activity of “Golden Dawn” in Greece and the consequences against it.

Will we therefore permit them to put an end to whatever has remained of the European acquis and the welfare state?

Will we permit them to turn the legitimate anger of the people against democracy and civil society?

No. We must join forces with the forces of those who realise the dead-end in which Europe is being driven to. We must unite forces to build the future of Europe on the solidarity of its peoples and the gains of its working people.

For us the hope and prospect for Cyprus and Europe does not lie in austerity for the many, in growth for the few, nor in short-sighted approaches that trap our country on dead-end paths.

This isn’t the Europe we want.

We want a Europe that will serve the interests of the many.

A Europe that defends the interests of the people of labour and young people.

We want a Europe that holds high the flag of peace and the idea of ​​democracy.

We want a Europe that protects the environment, defends human rights and promotes social justice.

This is our own path.

The Group of the Left in the European Parliament in which we are a member of is the force that is leading the way, putting forth proposals, struggling and asserting to realise our vision for Europe.

The European United Left/Nordic Green Left is working tirelessly to promote proposals aiming at protecting the weak, safeguarding political, social and labour rights.

It asserts for working people, women, farmers, for young people who feel that the current social and economic situation is killing their dreams.

It works with consistency to promote and implement a correct and comprehensive policy on the burning issues of our era: the refugee question, the environment and respect for human rights. The European United Left/Nordic Green Left is the force that stands on the side of the Cypriot people with consistency, supporting Cyprus’ cause on the basis of principles.

Fifteen years have elapsed since Cyprus became a member of the European Union.

Who can forget the big empty words back then?

Who can forget the sweet-sounding rhetoric, all the declarations about abundant economic benefits and streets paved with gold without problems.

AKEL, a patriotic Party with a history of more than ninety years of struggles and with a serious political discourse, did not fall for the lie and did not succumb to all the frenzy of celebrations. AKEL warned about the dangers and resisted the complacency that was being cultivated by the neoliberal right-wing and its followers.

The European Union has proved to be not what its dogmatic defenders presented to the people.

It took them many years to understand it – unfortunately it took just one night for the people to experience it. The dawn of that fatal Eurogroup meeting in March 2013 was more than enough.

Mr. Anastasiades and his European like-minded counterparts took the harshest and most anti-social decisions against our people. They called off the pre-election fiestas that Mr. Anastasiades and DISY were planning. They cancelled their pompous declarations.

They brought the whole of the European People’s Party to Cyprus. They employed the party of the European Right to convince us about their powerful friends and allies.

Two months later, with them they imposed severe austerity and anti-social measures on the people. They restricted our national sovereignty.

A few days ago we witnessed the same thing being repeated, this time with Manfred Weber as the protagonist, the candidate of the European Right for the Presidency of the European Commission.

The governing Democratic Rally DISY party projected him as a Messiah.

This is a politician with extremely conservative, dogmatic and populist positions; a politician that is touches on the boundaries of the ultra-right.

Cyprus paid a heavy price for the actions of the right-wing zealots.

In the past they were trying to convince people that they are more Greek than the Greeks.

Today they are trying to convince the people that they are more European than the Europeans.

But what kind of Europe are they referring to?

To the Europe of austerity, increasing inequalities and the impoverishment of the many?

Or are they referring to the Europe of bigotry, xenophobia and far-right populism?

The results of the European elections isn’t just about how many seats each party will have in the European Parliament.

They mean a lot more.

They are the first elections since the Presidential elections that reelected Mr. Anastasiades for a second term; a term which from its very first day has demonstrated to the Cypriot people the Anastasiades-DISY Government’s real face.

Authoritarianism and arrogance.

Cronyism and nepotism.

Interwoven interests and corruption.

Destructive tactics and decay.

Depreciation and “under the table” transactions.

Unprecedented attacks on anything with a public and social character.

Before the sell-off of the Cyprus Cooperative Bank we had the privatisation of the ports.

After the crisis in education, it will be the turn of the public health system.

For six years now as AKEL we have been warning that the public health system is collapsing.

At the last minute in the implementation of the National Health Scheme, problems are surfacing one after the other.

The Anastasiades-DISY government seems incapable of tackling them.

It is covering up problems to serve communication considerations, but doesn’t solve them effectively.

As it does not also solve many other problems regarding day-to-day issues and the quality of life of the many. Instead, it is continually creating more problems.

Society has been following in shock what is being revealed over the past few days about the justice system.

During the pre-election campaign, Mr. Anastasiades and DISY were trying to mislead the people by promoting the narrative about the Cyprus economy’s supposed “success story”.

The fairy tale of the few developed into a nightmare for the many.

They talk about growth. There has been growth recorded, but for the few.

They talk about recovery. What economy though?

The virtual reality economy, not the real economy.

The economy’s growth is circumstantial, not sustainable.

The “bubble” and “get rich quick” economy and not a productive and viable economy.

They talk about profits. Profits are being generated, but again for the few.

They talk about a reduction in unemployment. Unemployment is falling. But wages are being curbed, labour relations deregulated.

There is no permanency in work and quality in employment is lacking.

Their anti-social policies have destroyed Cypriot society as we knew it. Today, the majority of the people is struggling to repay loans, and is unable to meet basic needs.

What are the prospects for the country’s economy?

The impression given by the government is that they simply operate as granters of passports.

As servers of powerful interests.

As regulators of the deals made a tiny economic oligarchy whose only concern is the maximization of profit.

They have no vision for the economy.

They don’t have a long-term strategy.

They are not aiming to build infrastructures that concern the future.

The European elections are an opportunity for an overall repositioning of the economy’s strategic problems. It’s an opportunity for collective resistance to the complacency cultivated by the Government and DISY and which is undermining our children’s future.

During the election campaign, as AKEL we will highlight and put forth our positions on all these issues.

We will do so because now is the time to put an end to the lies and communication games.

It’s time to tell the truth, to put people’s lives and the main problems of their everyday life at the centre of attention; to tell the truth about all that the state deprives the people of and is duty bound to provide them. Only in this way will we build the future on solid foundations, give an impetus to our economy, deliver justice in society and project creative values ​​in our Democracy.

It is time to form a powerful counter pole to the policies that are tearing Cypriot society apart.

Policies that are condemning the majority of the people to a desperate attempt to repay loans and a struggle to survive.

It is time to draw a dividing line that will separate with clarity policies promoting the people’s interest and the common good from circumstantial policies serving private interests and selfish pursuits.

These European elections aren’t just about some election result. The right of our people to all that the Anastasiades-DISY government is destroying is being judged.

In the hope for a better life, with dignity and rights. In the hope for a democratic government that will have as its priority the basic needs of the people, through political participation.

We call on all those who share the same or similar principles as ours to join this struggle.

As far as the principal issue regarding the future of this country is concerned, namely the Cyprus problem, the situation is more than critical.

Time is running out and Mr. Anastasiades either does not realize it, or he is indifferent to the fact.

The Turkish Cypriot community is threatened by Ankara’s absorption and assimilation policies against it. A small community, a large section of which wants peace and reunification, will not be able to resist mighty Turkey forever.

If this isn’t understood soon by the Right and ultra-right in the Greek Cypriot community, this time they will cause irreparable harm to Cyprus.

Now is the time to tell it as it is.

Either the Cyprus problem will be solved with an honourable compromise, or we will open the door to the nightmare of partition.

It is obvious that at least until June, we won’t have any negotiations. Mr. Anastasiades must use the time to ensure that substantive negotiations will resume. At the point where we have reached, political decisions must be made. If a will is expressed by Turkey, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot community, we can move forward.

The Greek Cypriot side has justice on its side, so it also has the arguments to convince.

To be convincing it is imperative that it remains consistent to the agreed principles; that it abandons tactical games, contradictions and regressions; that it puts the interests of our country and people above Mr. Anastasiades’ considerations and expediencies.

AKEL has a vision for the Cyprus of the future

We both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots want to become the ones to lay the foundations for a common life and the waging of common social and political struggles.

We want to live in a reunited state, a continuation of the Republic of Cyprus, with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality.

We want to feel safe and optimistic, without any guarantee and intervention rights.

We want to safeguard that the two communities will live and work together in a united and independent homeland; that they will work together for their common future, with political equality as provided for in the relevant UN resolutions.

We want to build together with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots the Cyprus of the future.

We want everyone, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins, to look to the future with optimism and joy.

We want to build a country that will be a beacon and an example for the whole world.

It will be a modern model of harmonious living together of two communities of different nationality, language and religion that will be co-managing their common state. It will be a country that will have managed to drive away armies and channel all its forces and resources into social investment and economic development. We aspire to fulfill this vision.

AKEL in these elections will participate with a sound battle-worthy and strong ballot; candidates that combine experience with renewal, the presence of leading AKEL militants and people from the broader progressive spectrum.

Our ballot includes people who can worthily represent us in the European Parliament; people who have the experience, knowledge and dynamism demanded to become the voice of the Cypriot people in Europe.

Giorgos Georgiou, Athos Georgiou, Niyazi Kızılyürek, Giorgos Koukoumas, Marina Nicolaou and Neoklis Sylikiotis.

These are people who are well known for their party activity, but also other younger militants who have all the skills and knowledge to offer their services.

We know that there is already a lot of talk about the presence of a Turkish Cypriot on the AKEL-Left-New Forces ballot.

Niyazi Kızılyürek is not a member of AKEL. He belongs to the broader spectrum of ​​the Left. He shares with us the need to achieve a solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed principles.

The reunification of our country is AKEL’s life goal.

The struggle for the reunification of our country and people on the basis of federation is a common struggle of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can and must live together in our common homeland.

This is the symbolism expressed in our ballot.

There is no longer room for any illusions, nor for any complacency.

It’s our time now.

It is time to leave behind any inertia, apathy and fatalism.

Now is the time to devote all our energies…

Now is the time for our own voice to be heard.

Our voice is the voice that defends the future of Cyprus and its people.

It is the voice that is struggling for the rights of the working people, for everything that they arbitrarily want to take away from us.

The voice that is struggling for health, education, a welfare state and the defence of public property and wealth.

The voice that is struggling for our own future.

Cyprus will not become better without our own struggles.

Nor will Europe become better without our own struggles.

We must make that decision.

We need to believe it.

We need to fight for it.

We are the voice that comes from afar, carrying with it decades of struggles to establish a better Cyprus, a better world.

All our pride and strength, all that can take the country forward is to be found all through these decades of struggle.

We are the voice that struggled and is struggling for the many.

We are the voice of the many in Cyprus; the voice of the many in Europe.

A voice that makes strength a decision; a voice that with the support and work of all of us in May will be heard loud!