We are making History for the future
Article by Stefanos Stefanou – General Secretary of the Central Committee of AKEL
15 August 2026, HARAVGI newspaper
Today, 15 August 2026, marks one hundred years since the day when the hopes, aspirations and vision of an entire people began from within the four walls of Vasileiou Makedonos street in Limassol to become political action. One hundred years since the founding of the Communist Party of Cyprus (CPC) and the starting point of a journey which, since 1941, has been continued by AKEL. A century of struggles, sacrifices and service to the country and its people.
This day is a moment of deep emotion and justified pride. Above all, however, it is a moment of responsibility and of renewing our promise to the people and to our Cyprus.
We bow our heads in reverence before the pioneering communists who, in difficult times, paved the way.
We honour all those who, throughout this long journey, fought selflessly, were persecuted, imprisoned, exiled, were slandered and even sacrificed their lives for freedom and democracy, for peace and solidarity, for social justice, and for the ideals and principles of socialism.
We honour the thousands of members and friends of the Party and the Left, whose struggles and contributions have made AKEL a mass political, social and national force.
Our history is neither a privilege nor an excuse for any complacency. It is a precious legacy and a duty. We do not rest on the achievements and struggles of previous generations of our Party. For us, it is not a bill that demands payment today. It is a benchmark that calls on us to prove ourselves worthy and to carry on the struggle.
To learn from our rich history, to study our journey with honesty, to draw lessons from our successes and conclusions from our mistakes and weaknesses.
To keep our values, principles and character alive, whilst at the same time renewing ourselves, evolving and responding to the needs of each era, continuing the Left’s contribution through new struggles and new gains.
This is the greatest tribute to those who paved the way. This is the greatest tribute we can and must pay to those who opened the way.
AKEL was, is and will remain the Party of the working people. A Party which, day in, day out, places the progress of society and the well-being of the people at the very heart of its policy. In doing so, AKEL contributes to improving the lives of the common people, whilst at the same time creating the preconditions for deeper social changes.
The profound meaning of this centenary lies in its reflection on the future.
Over the course of this century, the CPC-AKEL has succeeded in establishing itself as a mass and powerful Party, with prestige, influence and a significant role in the country and in society. It achieved this because it consciously followed a political line that placed it at the forefront of the aspirations and struggles of the Cypriot people. Leading from the front, not from on high. Open to society, far from ideological dogmatisms and inward looking approaches that inevitably sap the vitality of action.
Without losing its orientations and without abandoning its socialist vision, AKEL has managed to leave an indelible mark on the successes of our people, on the achievements won by the working class, and on the fulfilment of patriotic, democratic and progressive goals.
In this way, our Party has forged a steadfast relationship with the people. For it was born out of their needs, listened to their concerns, organised collective action, transformed the prevailing injustice into struggle, and struggle into gains. This relationship is the lifeblood of AKEL’s very existence and strength.
We are the Party of the Cypriot Left that is not content merely to interpret reality, but intervenes to change it for the benefit of the many, not the few and the privileged.
We are the Party that conducts its politics on the basis of its principles, with a focus on the “present” and an eye on the “future”.
As AKEL marks its centenary, Cyprus and the world face major and complex challenges. The occupation and de facto partition threaten the future of our homeland. Wars, militarisation and the disregard for international law put peace, stability and security in danger.
Social inequalities are widening, labour markets are becoming increasingly deregulated, and wealth is concentrated in fewer and fewer hands. Expensiveness, rising prices, the housing crisis and economic insecurity weigh particularly heavily on working people, the young generation and the vulnerable groups of the population. The climate crisis threatens the future of our planet.
Technological transition and rapid changes in the economy are creating new opportunities, but also new dangers. At the same time, the far right, using nationalism, racism and authoritarianism, is attempting to turn fear and disillusionment into hatred and division.
In these conditions, the Left cannot, nor must it, be merely a force of protest. It must continue to be a force for struggle and project a vision. It must provide concrete answers to society’s problems and pave the way for deeper changes to the benefit of societies. It must defend the gains working people have won through sacrifices, but also to assert the modern rights our era demands: dignified work and wages, strong collective agreements, a welfare state, public and high-quality healthcare and education, affordable housing, clean and affordable energy, a just green transition, equality, and the protection of human rights and human dignity.
For AKEL, the greatest historical responsibility remains the liberation and reunification of our homeland and people. These can be achieved by reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem through political and diplomatic means. We remain steadfast in our struggle to end the occupation within the framework of the agreed solution of a Bi-zonal, Bi-communal Federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant UN resolutions. For a peaceful, independent Cyprus, a common homeland for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and a force for stability in the region. Standing up to the forces of nationalism, partition and the perpetuation of the status quo, we hold high the banner of our common struggle with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, the bannet of rapprochement and of the fraternity of our people.
At the same time, we are struggling for a society of justice and solidarity, for a modern, democratic and humane state. For institutions that serve citizens, for transparency, accountability and a resolute fight against corruption and entanglement. For a country that invests in its people, in knowledge, innovation, culture and creativity. For a Cyprus that will be a bridge of peace and cooperation, and not a military launching pad for foreign powers.
We know that no great progressive goal has ever been achieved by a single force acting alone.
The historical experience of the CPC-AKEL confirms the importance of looking outwards, collective action and uniting forces on the basis of a contemporary progressive agenda.
That is precisely why we seek cooperation with democratic and progressive forces, movements, organised groups and individuals who share with us the same goals and aspirations. The unity we seek is neither vague nor circumstantial. It is built on a clear political foundation: the reunification of Cyprus, social progress, the defence of labour and the welfare state, democracy and the rule of law, peace, environmental protection, the fight against entanglement and corruption, and resistance to fascism and racism.
For us, alliances do not mean abandoning our principles and our ideology. They mean rallying and uniting forces to change the balance of forces in favour of the changes our country needs.
It means an AKEL that is open to society, that listens, engages in a dialogue and builds joint action with people from different backgrounds but with the same visions and aspirations. To promote the unity of forces, with the aim of bringing about progressive change in our country, AKEL has established – together with progressive individuals and organised groups – the Social Alliance, which we aspire to develop into a dynamic, political platform that embraces all those who hope for and are fighting for a Cyprus that serves society and the aspirations of the people, particularly young people.
In the second century of the Cypriot Left, we want an AKEL that is even stronger, more mass in numbers, more modern and more assertive.
A Party with a presence everywhere – in workplaces, neighbourhoods, towns, villages, educational institutions, social movements and local communities.
A Party that gives space and a role to the young generation, to women, and to the people of labour, science and culture.
A Party that harnesses the knowledge and new possibilities of our era, without losing its lively connection with the people.
A Party that elaborates evidence-based policies, develops its ideological work and wins the battle for the hearts and minds of the people and ultimately, the political battle.
This is encapsulated in the slogan of the Party’s 100 years of struggles: ‘We turn History into the future’. We do not view History as a museum exhibit, nor as a mere memory. We take its values and lessons and transform them into a force for today’s struggles. We take its flame and shed light on the paths of tomorrow.
A hundred years on, we continue our struggle. With respect for those who paved the way, with confidence in our people’s strength and with unshakeable faith in our ideals, we enter our second century of life and struggle.
We do not lower the bar of our aspirations.
We will not compromise with injustice, partition, exploitation and war.
We continue with optimism, unity and determination to ‘set our sights on new horizons’.
With our eyes fixed on tomorrow, we press ahead. For Cyprus and the world we dream of. For humanity, peace and social justice, with socialism as our goal.
We are turning History into the future!
