The welfare state and the President’s conscience – Article by Evanthia Savva – Head of Social Policy and member of the C.C. of AKEL

 

 

Sunday 25 September 2022, “HARAVGI” newspaper

In an event held at the Presidential Palace, the President of the Republic presented within the context of an assessment on his ten-year administration and the policies implemented by his government, in conjunction with the Plan “Cyprus – Tomorrow” towards the construction of an inclusive welfare state.

The President of the Republic said that his conscience is clear about the fact that during his 10 years of governance he has created an inclusive welfare state which he is leaving as a legacy for the next generation.

Those who listened to the President and have experienced the difficulties and exclusions felt that they were living on another planet… The realities experienced by society are stark and show that we are a long way off from a genuine welfare state without exclusions, where every citizen of this country has the support of the state when he or she needs it.

This is what the ten-year DISY government has “achieved”:

• The government ruling forces have promoted a national minimum wage at €940 gross with undefined working hours.
• They have closed down public kindergartens and elaborated a (for pre-election purposes) scheme to subsidise tuition fees of private schools.
• They have lumped all vulnerable groups – disabled, low pensioners, unemployed – under the Minimum Guaranteed Income.
• People with disabilities continue to live in institutionalised status with substandard and insecure living conditions.
• The elderly and people with disabilities still live together in homes for the elderly and disabled, a situation which does not guarantee the rights and dignified treatment of any of these vulnerable groups.
• The government ruling forces have dismantled housing policy, with the result that young couples are unable to buy or rent housing.
• Students are abandoning their studies because of high rents.
• Delays in the processing of any claims continue with the result that huge numbers of our fellow citizens are waiting for months for either their unemployment, pension, unemployment or sickness benefit.
• At the same time, figures released by the Statistical Office show that more than 150,000 of our fellow citizens are at risk of poverty and social exclusion.
• The government ruling forces have given the banks the right to the fast-track auctions and foreclosures.
• For the first time in Cyprus we now have homeless people.

These are the realities in Cyprus today and everyone can understand whether all of the above make up a welfare state, a state with social sensitivities, a state where every citizen, every vulnerable group of citizens can find the support they need and not become a beggar.

As far as the conscience of the President of the Republic is concerned, this is of course also determined by the degree of conscience of each person. However, common sense dictates that, given the realities on the ground, no one should have a clear conscience, let alone the President of the Republic.

It is because of these realities that we as AKEL will not stop struggling, both inside and outside Parliament, through the submission of legislative proposals, suggestions and interventions for the establishment of an effective network of protection for citizens. To have a real welfare state, changes are needed, starting with getting rid of the DISY government and its policies that serve its “chosen few” and not the many vulnerable.