There is one and only one choice before us
By Andros Kyprianou, former General Secretary of f AKEL
21 October 2022
The upcoming Presidential Elections are quite rightly described as a crossroads for Cyprus. They will be very decisive for the path that our country and people will take in the coming decades.
The situation has reached a breaking point. Society is suffocating under the weight of price hikes, expensiveness, social inequality, corruption, clientelism/cronyism and impunity. As far as the Cyprus problem is concerned, we are dangerously close to a permanent partition, while our attachment to the US and NATO limits our foreign policy options. Furthermore, our international credibility has been seriously damaged as a result of the involvement of Anastasiades in a series of scandals.
There are many candidates for the Presidency of the Republic. But there are three that have a good chance of success. A. Mavroyiannis, Av. Neofytou and N. Christodoulides.
What are the characteristics of each candidate?
Averof Neofytou is not hiding at all. He clearly states that he will be the continuation of the policy implemented by Mr. Anastasiades. On the Cyprus problem at all critical moments he has supported him. On corruption issues he denies any involvement of Anastasiades and the government in them. He is a lover of NATO and of blindly tying us to the war machine of the West, depriving us of important friends. The most conservative neoliberal candidate who unreservedly supported the banks at the expense of citizens. He glorifies profits without caring about their fairer distribution. He is interested in the privileged and the “chosen few” without caring about the many.
On the contrary, Mr. Christodoulides is trying to present a picture of himself that is very different from the real one. The picture of the kind, conciliatory and consensual figure, the servant of the people. The last few years and developments in the election campaign have shattered this timeless effort he was made.
What has come to the fore is an inability to properly anticipate and deal with problems, with the consequence that Cyprus and our people are paying the cost. Copy paste speeches, the creation of fake accounts to bash fellow presidential candidates and hostile journalists, avoiding taking a position on critical issues in order to avoid being badly exposed. Most importantly. The candidacy of N. Christodoulides is a mosaic of support with diametrically opposed positions that will act as a Tower of Babel. He bears a huge responsibility for developments on the Cyprus problem, while he tolerated the corruption of the Anastasiades Government of which he was a prominent member.
Neither one, nor the other can bring the change that the overwhelming majority of the people are seeking.
The only one of the candidates who can lead this effort is A. Mavroyiannis. A man who is incorruptible, with a proven willingness to selflessly serve the Cypriot people. His entire record says so. With knowledge and the will to pull the Cyprus problem out of the quagmire it finds itself and to work consistently for a solution. A candidate determined to make an example of those guilty of corruption. A person characterised by sensitivity and who will support working people and those in need. A.Mavroyiannis will support healthy entrepreneurship and the need for a fairer distribution of the wealth produced. A candidate who will defend human rights and democracy.
So let not a single vote go to waste.
Let us not unintentionally reward Av. Neofytou or Nikos Christodoulides.
Let us restore the hope and perspective to our country by voting for A. Mavroyiannis.
