Albeit belatedly, the government's measures to address the issue of poverty are in the right direction, but they are not enough, said General Secretary of AKEL, Stefanos Stefanou, who expects the Council of Heads to convene in order for the party to submit its proposals.
In statements made during a tour of Limassol's 1st Municipal Market on Saturday, Mr.Stefanou said that AKEL continues its contact with civil society "in an admittedly very difficult period".
"Accuracy for several months now has started putting pressure on the family budget and tormenting households and businesses," he said, adding that "accuracy is becoming even more pressing and the prospect, unfortunately, for dealing with this phenomenon is not good, bearing in mind what is happening in Ukraine, which affects and will continue to affect the prices of very basic goods that directly and indirectly affect Cyprus as well."
It is for this very reason, he continued, that we as a party, for some time now, have been appealing to the Government to take all those necessary measures to deal with the price tag and to protect households, society and the economy.
Referring to the measures announced by the government the day before yesterday, the Secretary General of AKEL said that they are in the right direction, "albeit very late", while stressing that "these measures are not enough and much more needs to be done".
"We have put forward very specific proposals, directly applicable and, in our conviction, effective, so as to relieve households and help businesses," he added.
In addition, he noted that the government should activate the tools that exist and the relevant agencies to deal with the phenomena of obscenity that is observed whenever there is an increase in prices and indicated that "there is the tool of the cap, which is not only in case of obscenity."
"The ceilings are also needed to protect households, to protect especially the vulnerable groups of the population, the low paid, the low pensioners, the unemployed, the young and it is for this very reason that we are asking the government to activate, for various goods and various products, this tool to protect people," he said.
In relation to AKEL's letter to the President to convene the Council of Heads with all relevant ministers and departments to assess the situation as it is taking shape with the war in Ukraine, Stefanos Stefanou said that President Anastasiades responded positively and said he would convene the meeting upon his return from abroad.
He reiterated AKEL's intention to help in the effort that must be made to address the challenges and that his party had formulated specific proposals and views "on how we could, to the maximum extent possible, address these problems".
Regarding his visit to Limassol's 1st Municipal Market, Stefanou said that, in talking to the businessmen, there is a concern about what will arise further with the situation in Ukraine, however, he said, "at the same time there is optimism that we can deal with the problems and move forward".
Asked about the party's consultations on the presidential elections, the AKEL Secretary General said that, after the meeting with the President of DIKO, a meeting with leaders of other opposition parties would be attempted within days and expressed confidence that there would soon be a clearer picture of the prospects for cooperation.
He stressed that "it is imperative that the coalition government, which has caused unbelievable and deep deadlocks in all those important sectors that determine the course of the country and the people, must go" and that, at the same time, a government with a progressive programme must be elected to the presidency, "which will not only deal with the deadlocks but will open a new perspective for the country and society."
Source: CNA
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