STATEMENT OF ANDROS KYPRIANOU, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE C.C. OF AKEL, ON THE RESULT OF THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 2013

24th February 2013, Nicosia

 

First of all allow me to congratulate Mr. Anastasiades for his election to the Presidency of the Republic. I should say that I have communicated with his Office, but did not manage to talk with him. Hence, I express in public too our congratulations.

 

In addition, I would like to express our warm congratulations to Stavros Malas. He has waged the election struggle with great vigour, determination and above all, with ethos. I consider that he has shown how political positions must be projected today. We have cooperated with him impeccably during the entire election campaign and we shall of course discuss with him, and this is indeed our hope, how this flawless cooperation we had will continue in the future too.

 

Before I deal with the substantive issues, I would also like to congratulate the Government for the perfect organisation of the two election rounds, as well as the citizens and voters for the civilised way in which they exercised their election right.

 

I would like to thank from the bottom of our hearts all those who worked selflessly to achieve this election result in both rounds of the election, but also to thank in particular those who voted for us in both the first and second round.

 

I would especially like to express our warmest congratulations to the organisational mechanism of our Party, to the many hundreds of grass roots volunteers, to the cadres, members and friends of AKEL who waged this election struggle in extremely difficult and adverse conditions, in a negative climate that was shaped by the consequences of the world economic crisis on the Cyprus economy, by the atmosphere created by the deadly blast at the Mari naval base, but also by the constant destructive criticism which was levelled at the President of the Republic and AKEL in recent years.

 

I would like to clarify that criticism is always welcome because it helps us improve ourselves, but exercising criticism is one thing and constant destructive criticism is something else.

 

In these very difficult conditions we have achieved a result which we will of course analyse comprehensively in due time within the collective bodies of our Party which we believe is very positive. It is a result which has brought us to the position of opposition with high percentages, upright withstanding all the attacks, with our heads held high and ready to always play our role aiming to serve the interests of Cyprus and the Cypriot people.

 

At the same time, I would like to point out that the voters of AKEL conveyed messages and I would like to assure them that we have taken these messages in mind, that we will study them very carefully and we shall begin a dialogue with them to see which is the best way so that we can move forward.

 

Furthermore, I want to particularly thank the voters of the spectrum of the centre who chose to vote for the candidacy of Stavros Malas in the second round. I would like to tell them that we have taken on board the messages they have expressed both in the first and second round and we shall seek an understanding, dialogue and cooperation with them also, so that we shall contribute to leading our country and people forward.

 

I venture to say that if those who were contesting the vote of the Cypriot people in the first round promising that they will work to block the way to the election of Nicos Anastasiades had taken a clear position with regards the second round then the election result would have been different.

 

The day after the election calls for the broadest possible understanding. The country’s problems demand a collective management and in order to create the right environment to have this collective management, it is very important to implement such policies that will enable a collective management and the greatest possible unity of the political forces in the correct direction.

 

I would like to clarify that AKEL will lead the way in the efforts for the broadest possible cooperation, that will first and foremost ensure the correct handling with regards the Cyprus problem, the tackling of the consequences of the economic crisis and the memorandum in a way that will not permit the imposition of anti-peoples policies by using the economic crisis as a pretext; policies that must ensure the proper utilisation of the natural gas, that will defend and promote the respect of institutions and will lead to the further modernisation of society.

 

Let me make it clear that as AKEL we shall exercise our role in opposition with seriousness and responsibility and always having the interests of Cyprus and our people at the centre of our attention.

 

I want to assure the Cypriot people that we shall formulate a firm position, but always well-documented in its criticism, whilst at the same time we shall back whatever is positive coming from the government.

 

In conclusion, an overall assessment of the election result and the five year term of the Demetris Christofias administration will be made by the collective bodies of the Party in the immediate period ahead.