The social programme of Andreas Mavroyiannis meets our people’s needs

Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Giorgos Koukoumas

27 September 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The progressive change that Cyprus needs has a content. Namely, the defence of the great social majority from price hikes, price increases, steep rents, the arbitrariness of the banks and employers: all that is crushing society. Andreas Mavroyiannis’ social programme responds to exactly that: to the people’s needs. To the needs of working people and the low-paid, young couples and youth.

The independent candidate Andreas Mavroyiannis has officially too outlined the social policy priorities of his administration, among which the following stand out:

• The restoration of the Cost of Living Allowance COLA and its extension so that it covers all working people in the private sector
• The abolition of the unfair 12% penalty on pensioners who opt to retire at 63 years of age
• The reduction of the taxes on electricity, fuel and essential goods
• The elaboration and implementation of a comprehensive social housing programme for middle and low income households

The two DISY candidates, namely Averof Neophytou and Nikos Christodoulides, cannot propose – let alone implement – such policies because they are and want to be the continuation of the Anastasiades government. A government that has led to the decline of the Cypriot people’s standard of living, while for a decade now it has scandalously served powerful private interests and the banks. Averof Neophytou and Nikos Christodoulides represent the past. They represent a policy that has left Cypriot society more unequal than ever.

Opposing them, the independent candidate Andreas Mavroyiannis, the candidate supported by AKEL, the Left and the progressive people of the country, represents the hope for change – a change with a social, pro-people and progressive outlook.