Statements by the General Secretary of AKEL Stefanos Stefanou on ‘Astra’ radio station 22/23 May 2026 “A Strong AKEL, a Powerful Voice for Society”.
Support the AKEL candidate list against the government’s anti-social policies and the far right
The General Secretary of AKEL Stefanos Stefanou issued a call to citizens to cast their vote for the AKEL – Left – Social Alliance candidate lists on Sunday, speaking on “Astra” radio station, emphasizing the need for a strong Left to emerge that will continue to struggle decisively in favour of society and the many.
Stefanos Stefanou stressed that Cyprus needs a strong AKEL, capable of continuing the political and social struggles to defend working people and society, but also to preserve the prospect of a solution to the Cyprus problem.
As he characteristically stated, “We need a strong Left, a strong AKEL, to continue waging its battles, to keep Cyprus alive, to resolve the Cyprus problem, to sustain society, and to have a happy and optimistic people” .
The General Secretary of AKEL noted that the responsibility toward future generations makes support for AKEL in the upcoming elections particularly important. He emphasized that Sunday’s election could mark a new, dynamic beginning for continuing the path and ideals championed by AKEL.
AKEL General Secretary on ASTRA: The best protection for Cyprus is a solution to the Cyprus problem
Without a solution to the Cyprus problem that will end the occupation and reunite Cyprus and our people, we will have a permanent source of danger for our country, noted the General Secretary of AKEL on ‘Astra’ radio station, adding that at the same time, the absence of a solution deprives us of the prospects and opportunities we have as a country.
For this specific reason, Stefanos Stefanou emphasized that AKEL will continue to be a leading force and will remain the main pillar of the struggle for a solution to the Cyprus problem.
S.Stefanou also noted that “the best protection for Cyprus is a solution to the Cyprus problem, and that is precisely where we must focus our attention.”
AKEL’s positions are very clear, he said, noting concisely that the Party wants “negotiations to resume from where we left off at Crans Montana in 2017, for the convergences that have been recorded to be safeguarded, for the Guterres framework to be utilized, and for the Greek Cypriot side to take initiatives so that —as far as it is within our power—to create momentum to break the deadlock and continue the negotiations.”
St. Stefanou on ‘Astra’ radio: What protection has NATO provided to Greece in the face of Turkey’s provocative actions?
AKEL remains unwavering in its position against Cyprus’s accession to NATO for specific reasons that have been explained many times.
Commenting on the accusation that AKEL is driven by ideological rigidity on this issue as well, the General Secretary of AKEL St. Stefanou wondered if the same might not apply precisely to those forces/circles who support Cyprus’s accession to NATO. Wanting to join NATO, he pointed out, isn’t that ideological rigidity?
AKEL, he added, provides well-documented reasons why NATO membership will serve no purpose for Cyprus and will cause us problems. Referring to those who say that NATO membership would provide protection, the General Secretary of AKEL questioned what protection NATO has provided in the face of Turkey’s provocations and threats against Greece, given that both countries are NATO allies.
S.Stefanou also stressed that it is an illusion to believe that Israel will protect us in the event of an attack by Turkey.
The General Secretary of AKEL: New parties emerge from the fleeting popularity of personalities
The creation of new political parties is not a new phenomenon; there were simply far fewer of them up until recently, Stefanos Stefanou underlined speaking on ‘Astra’ radio station, noting that their defining characteristic is that “they haven’t brought anything new to the table; they haven’t changed things because they don’t represent anything new, even if they are new in terms of age.”
S.Stefanou added that most of the time “new parties are created by popular figures who held certain positions or played certain roles and gained some temporary popularity. They capitalize on their popularity by forming parties, but once they enter the daily grind and the combative arena of political engagement, it turns out they cannot represent the people’s interests the way AKEL does, and eventually they come full circle.
The General Secretary of AKEL noted that “the only difference today is that in the more modern version of this trend, we have a large number of new parties most of which will fade away.”
Stefanos Stefanou on ‘Astra’ radio station: For society standing up to the privileged few and their super profits
Stefanos Stefanou issued a call to citizens on Sunday to support the AKEL Left Social Alliance candidate lists
As the General Secretary of AKEL emphasized, “We need a strong left, a strong AKEL to continue waging its battles, to keep Cyprus alive, to resolve the Cyprus problem, to support society, and to have a happy and optimistic people.
The General Secretary of AKEL noted that we owe this primarily to future generations, which is why “on Sunday we are making a fresh, dynamic start to continue with the momentum of our history as well as the power of the vision and ideals that AKEL champions.”
He added that the goal is for AKEL to remain a strong force in Parliament so as to promote policies for society against the interests of the privileged few and their exorbitant profits, expressing optimism that this goal will be achieved.
More specifically, S.Stefanou noted that “both the latest polls and our contacts with the people make us optimistic that we will achieve our pre-election goal, which is for AKEL to exceed the percentage it received in 2021 (22.34).
As the General Secretary of AKEL explained, “these percentages can and must serve as the foundation upon which we build so that we may eventually return to where AKEL historically stood. That is why it is important to maintain a strong presence in Parliament, which will give us the strength to continue defending society, to continue working to achieve progressive change in our country by 2028, and at the same time to further strengthen our Party, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary.”
The formation of a DISY-DIKO-ELAM front seeks to push through the Government’s anti-social policies
“At the same time as President Christodoulides says he is not interfering in the parliamentary elections, he has called for a centre-right majority in parliament the day after the election in order to push through the government’s anti-social policies,” stated Stefanos Stefanou, pointing out that to this end they are trying to form and establish a DISY-DIKO-far right ELAM front.
AKEL will not play into their hands, he emphasized, noting that “this is what we are fighting for, and we call on the people to give us a strong presence in Parliament. We will act as the progressive force to push through, via Parliament—as far as the Constitution allows—measures that benefit society and to resist policies that undermine society.”
Regarding the far-right party ELAM, he stated that there is no place for the far-right in a democratic system. We oppose ELAM because it is not just another voice in democracy, but the voice that seeks to undermine democracy. And that is precisely why we will never engage in any dialogue with the far right.”
23 May 2026
AKEL: A Struggle for a Strong Welfare State and Support for the Many
The review issued by AKEL’s parliamentary group for the 2021–2026 term documents a rich and multifaceted record of action with a specific social impact, highlighting a consistent, evidence-based, and targeted political presence in defence of the social majority.
At a time when social pressures are intensifying, the cost of living is rising, and inequalities are deepening, AKEL reaffirms in practice its role as a force that stands against policies favouring powerful economic interests. With unwavering commitment, AKEL defends workers, young couples, families, and vulnerable social groups of the population, fighting for measures that meet the real needs of society rather than the dictates of the market.
Particular emphasis is placed on the welfare state. Through a coherent and targeted set of interventions, AKEL highlighted the need for the substantial strengthening of social protection, promoting proposals that address the daily lives of thousands of citizens and seek to restore balances that have been undermined in recent years.
Minimum Guaranteed Income: Support that should correspond to reality
A central issue in AKEL’s parliamentary activity was the need for a substantial adjustment of the Minimum Guaranteed Income (MGI). The Party repeatedly raised the issue of increasing benefits and that a comprehensive review of benefit policy should be made, emphasizing that the current system no longer meets the real needs of society.
Particular emphasis was placed on the fact that the basic needs allowance has remained frozen at €480 since 2014, at a time when expensiveness has skyrocketed. AKEL points out that the purchasing power of the allowance has eroded significantly, leaving thousands of households vulnerable and without adequate support.
Need to revise the housing allowance
At the same time, AKEL submitted proposals for the development of a comprehensive plan to evaluate and restructure the MGI, in order to ensure a more targeted and fair distribution of benefits. In this context, the need to revise the housing allowance was also highlighted, as an increasingly large proportion of beneficiaries’ income is directed toward covering rent or loan obligations.
At the same time, AKEL raised the issue of updating the so-called “cost-of-living basket,” calling for it to reflect the actual needs of modern households rather than outdated data.