STATEMENT OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE C.C. OF AKEL ON THE COMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

 

Press Office of the C.C. of AKEL, 20th February 2013, Nicosia

 

On Sunday, a very concrete dilemma will be put before every democratic and progressive person: Nikos Anastasiades or Stavros Malas.

 

In other words, on Sunday before every democratic and progressive person the dilemma will be put whether or not a common path, a common struggle that started in the dark period of 1974 will continue and continues today.

 

Addressing the people of the spectrum of the centre I would like to recall that since then, we have joined hands and fought together for the liberation, progress and prosperity of our country and people.

 

We worked together to free ourselves from the authoritarian and anti-peoples policies which they always wanted to impose on us. Together we defended with the public wealth. Together we safeguarded working people’s rights and gains. Charting a common course through time, we worked together with the late S. Kyprianou, T. Papadopoulos and with D. Christofias, attaining many important achievements for the working people and the middle class.

 

Needless to say, between AKEL and parties of the centrist space there are differences. But this Sunday we do not have parliamentary elections. No one will be called upon to support his/her own party. This Sunday we are all called upon to work together to block the road to the policies against people’s interests; to stem the tsunami of austerity, cuts and privatization that threatens Cyprus with a possible election of Mr. Anastasiades.

 

This Sunday we have to make a choice. Either the candidate and party leader of the Right will be elected to the Presidency; the candidate and party leader who has split the centre; the same person who denounced his own country abroad, just because the majority of the people did not share his own view, the candidate and party leader whose positions on the Cyprus problem and social issues rouse fear, or we will take the step forward. That is to say, to elect a young person to the Presidency of the Republic; an independent candidate who comes from the spectrum of the centre-left; a sincere candidate, credible and honest; a candidate with clear and realistic proposals, willing and able to form a government of national coalition, who rejects the dangerous policies on the Cyprus problem and the abolition of the welfare state.

 

This Sunday we must all listen to our historical and political consciousness; to put genuine patriotism above anything else. I urge everyone to continue and strengthen our common historical path; to achieve the victory of Stavros Malas which will not represent a victory of a party, but of all progressive Cypriots.

 

Together, with Stavros Malas we can make the change.