The 100 policy axes were presented by the President of DISY and candidate for the Presidency of the Republic, Averof Neophytou, at an event marking 46 years of the Democratic Rally.
Among the points that stand out is the new approach to security with Averof Neophytou promoting the immediate application for Cyprus' membership in NATO.
Specifically, the DISY President says that "our radical approach to the issue of Cyprus' security breaks the taboos and we ask for the involvement of European, Euro-Atlantic institutions and NATO to enter into the equation of the effective security of our country, in a way that will ensure the survival of the Cypriot Hellenism. I believe that as of now Cyprus should put forward the issue of applying for NATO membership. As well as the fact that hydrocarbons and security can unlock the Cyprus problem.
His speech:
Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends and friends,
I am thrilled to welcome you to today's event.
This event aims to commemorate, with humility and modesty, the 46 years since the founding of our party, the Democratic Rally.
- 46 years that have housed the dreams and hopes of our fellow citizens.
- 46 years of selfless national and political struggles of tens of thousands of people.
- 46 years of selfless national and political struggles of tens of thousands of people. People who gave their all for our collective welfare. It is mainly they and they who we honor today. You, the elders, but also the fellow competitors who are no longer with us. We are grateful to you.
- 46 years of teaching the political system unity. National reconciliation. Healing the wounds of division.
They established the position that none of us are any less patriotic. They convinced of respect for democracy. They showed that different opinions are wealth and strength to move forward.
- 46 years of encouraging our fellow human beings to carry on, in hard times, in crises, with dignity. And with their heads held high.
Equipping them with tools, method and mental fortitude to take their fate back into their own hands. As free peoples deserve.
Dear friends,
On July 4, 1976, Glafkos Clerides did not just found a political formation, one of the dozens the country has seen in its troubled history.
With our country having just endured the suffering of the coup and the brutality of the invasion, the visionary politician put forward a different proposal.
He creates a party to pave the way for the free, modern, democratic, united, European Cyprus that we deserve!
In spite of the times that narrow the horizons, he looks ahead!
He thus turns a new page in the history of the country.
We know what our founder would say today.
He would say that the best way to honor our past is to talk about the future.
The best way to honor the great and important things we have accomplished is for what we do from now on to be even greater.
Even more important.
There could be no better occasion than today to honour our history.
Because today, friends, we present the 100 policy pillars of the Democratic Rally for Cyprus for the next day.
Friends,
The Democratic Rally became great because it went against the grain. With patriotic realism and truth. With courage. Bold. Sometimes unpopular positions. But which showed the way for the future.
Like the accession of our country to the European Union. The greatest national achievement of our founder, but also the huge victory of our Cyprus. A goal, a vision that few believed in.
That gave Cyprus security and perspective. And enshrined it in its natural geopolitical and cultural space.
Like the effective handling of the economic and health crisis by Glafkos Clerides' successor, Nikos Anastasiades. Who took over a bankrupt economy in 2013.
With the right policies, today, 9 years later, Cyprus is a different country.
Today we continue. Keeping our country standing. To provide security and stability. Development and perspective.
Ensuring Cyprus the right to look ahead.
Developing our policies for the next day of our Cyprus.
Dear friends,
We celebrate the completion of 46 years of our party. To assert our will to keep it united and even stronger.
Connecting it with the aspirations of the great majority of our people.
The majority that, beyond parties and various parties, expects to see our Cyprus again facing the adversities of the times.
To overcome the minefield of the new global crisis that we are facing.
To this majority of our fellow citizens we dedicate today's celebration.
Tomorrow we will dedicate the new five years of our government to it.
We are addressing it.
Calling on it to join us in a common front against populism and regression, which comes in the guise of the so-called modern.
We are the party of all Cypriots.
The party of a society that wants to go forward, refusing to enter new adventures. It refuses to risk its acquisitions. It refuses to go back to a past it does not even want to remember.
The faction of a society that abhors demagogy. It trusts itself. It relies on its own strengths.
The party of the young and the middle class. That understands the dangers, challenges and opportunities of our times. And knows with whom it can face them and from whom it must guard itself.
Which knows how to judge, compare and choose with sobriety, fairness and realism the path of responsibility, progress and progress.
I am fully aware that many of our fellow citizens have been embittered by some of our mistakes.
They have been hurt and disappointed by certain attitudes.
They have been hurt and disappointed by certain behaviours. They are tired of controversy.
I am also aware that a large part of our society is concerned about today. Insecurity about tomorrow, anxiety about their position, their job and their income.
But I also know that misery does not suit our proud citizens. Mediocrity is no match for them. Lightness and emptiness are not befitting. They are not suited to deception.
Because newness, difference, change, if not accompanied by action, experience, skill, efficiency, are just fine words and empty slogans.
For us, friends, newness, evolution, is our political DNA.
For us, friends, newness, evolution, is our political DNA.
The future is the oxygen of the Democratic Rally.
And the Democratic Rally is the guarantee that both our country and its citizens will always and safely move forward.
That is why we are presenting today the foundations of our reform plan. For the Cyprus of the next day. For the Cyprus of creation and multiple possibilities.
100 policy axes in 8 pillars for the next day.
The basis and foundation of the thorough and detailed governance programme that will follow next autumn.
It is the plan that stems from the values, philosophy and ideas of the Democratic Union. Our patriotic, centre-right, liberal and democratic political philosophy.
The plan based on the important work of our ten years of governance
The plan that was carved out through an unprecedented process: 10 months of mass and democratic dialogue.
The plan that was carved out through an unprecedented process: 10 months of mass and democratic dialogue. Not hidden, but open to society. With citizens and social groups, in the run-up to our congress.
And it was drawn up by our worthy team of executives, our Institutes, our technocrats, our Policy Production Groups, but also by expert technocrats, academics and ordinary citizens, thousands of people who turned up to assist this effort.
The Plan for the Next Day sets out in a comprehensive way the basis for the Next Day of Cyprus. First, for a free and united Cyprus, free and united, free and united with the occupation. For a country that is outward-looking and secure, that seeks regional, European and international cooperation and takes advantage of its geostrategic and geopolitical position.
Second, for a Cyprus that is resilient and sustainable. That also faces the new crisis. For a country attractive for investment, with a solidly based and competitive economy, through a dynamic and sustainable development model.
Third, for a Cyprus that is modern and digital. Where its structures meet the needs of the new era. For a country that facilitates the citizen every day and builds a new regional centre of technology and innovation in the region.
Fourth, for a Cyprus that is green. That becomes an international model of green transition. For a country of smart cities, smart transport and smart energy, exploiting the unique natural qualities and wealth of our homeland for the benefit of its people and the planet.
Fifth, for a Cyprus of high quality of life. That establishes modern, green, safe cities and develops life in the countryside. For a country that protects the environment and highlights its culture and sport.
Sixth, for a Cyprus of solidarity. That ensures social cohesion and decent living for all. For a country with the best possible health services, that supports the family and provides a strong safety net.
Seventh, for a Cyprus of knowledge and employment. That meets the educational, professional and social challenges of the future. For a country that creates opportunities for all its citizens, especially its young people.
And eighth, for a Cyprus that is fair. One that imposes transparency, accountability and the rule of law. For a country where every citizen feels included and enjoys equal rights and equal opportunities.
Our plan includes flagship policies, initiatives and reforms.
Our radical approach to the issue of Cyprus' security. We break taboos and call for the involvement of European, Euro-Atlantic and NATO institutions. To enter into the equation of effective security of our country, in a way that will ensure the survival of Cypriot Hellenism. I believe that from now on, Cyprus must put forward the issue of applying for NATO membership. As well as the fact that hydrocarbons and security can unlock the Cyprus problem.
The plan for the next day includes our determination for a complete reorganisation of the Cypriot state. We dare and propose the Constitutional Review. With full respect for the balance imposed by the bicommunal nature of the constitution. As well as the redesign and reorganization of the state from scratch. Today's Cyprus cannot function with the structures of 1960. Today, we are determined to put the whole state on the mobile phone of every citizen.
For the first time in Cyprus such a comprehensive and multi-level family policy is presented in Cyprus. That actively supports every child that is born. It provides for the creation of crèches at workplaces and the extension of the institution of all-day schooling to all public schools of pre-primary, primary and secondary education. Providing for an even more dynamic and modern housing policy that will offer the opportunity of housing either at an affordable purchase price or at an affordable rent.
Our plan explains the adjustments to be made to the PESY, while maintaining intact its philosophy and character. So that our health care system can provide higher quality and more timely services to every patient. And not to be abused by anyone, enriching themselves at the expense of patients. We are still determined to establish a University Hospital in Cyprus as soon as possible. This distortion, must end.
In the next day of our welfare state, we are bringing our social intervention closer to the citizens, with the neighbourhood social worker and the family support network. With digitalisation, consolidation and simplification, we are ensuring that benefits are paid quickly. No benefit payment should be delayed more than one month from the claim. We ensure that our disabled people and those with chronic illnesses live in special organised facilities. And we are leading the way towards reforming our pension system and active ageing.
In our plan we set out how we will ensure the autonomy of our next generation. Who deserve to be financially autonomous, housing autonomous and family autonomous. But also the great investment in our human capital. So that our people, young and old, can prosper and create, equipped with the skills that the next day, not the day before, demands.
We give today the outline of the great reform that is pending, that of our education system. As well as the outline of our policies that will further boost employment through the creation of tens of thousands of jobs, to be added to the 80,000 jobs already created by the policies of our own government in previous years. Jobs that at the same time improve working conditions, and pay, for any young person or worker who wants to be skilled and ready to meet the demands of the new skills.
In the next day we are showing the way to full gender equality. With equal participation in government, the path to equal participation of both parents in the upbringing of children, and the numerous and great facilities that will reconcile work and family life. We are determined to give every woman the opportunity to participate in the productive process if she so desires.
We uphold our principled position that people have equal rights and equal opportunities regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. But also the need to address the migration issue. A real problem that is upsetting Cypriot society. Because Cyprus must provide safe shelter to every genuine refugee and ensure decent living conditions. On the other hand, however, it is equally true that the country has gone far beyond the limits of hosting informal economic migrants. They now account for an overwhelming proportion of migration, with unbearable economic and social consequences. Our country cannot afford any more such flows. Any political refugee whose application is rejected will have to leave the country. At the same time, the incentive that allows every asylum seeker to work while their application is being examined should be stopped.
The Plan for the Next Day fully develops our country's new development model. The coexistence of the old and new sectors of our economy, which, with the right policies, will ensure the resilience, sustainability and stability of the country. We see the economy as a whole to which everyone contributes and must contribute. Our tourism, services, land development and shipping sectors, together with higher education, industry, telecommunications and IT services, research and technology. The new prospects for our services sector. Transit trade and health care. But also the primary sector and our agricultural production.
Friends,
On these axes, in the coming months we will build our full and detailed programme.
Continuing to knead with society and the social partners, with whom we are in permanent dialogue, not only when there is an election.
For policies that will achieve the goals of the Democratic Rally for Cyprus.
The party of big decisions and big choices for this country. But also of the great visions that we all consistently share over the years.
At the same time, we will present coordinated individual measures and policies,
Costed and detailed.
We have already published our first programmatic positions. To empower and enable women to have equal opportunities in education and work. We have put forward proposals for green growth. And on digital transition.
Yesterday I gave the media proposals for sustaining growth and relieving low incomes against the wave of poverty.
But also measures to redress injustice in the refugee world.
Specifically. Incentives for investment. To keep growth rates high and avoid recession.
Based on the state's fiscal capacity, in 2023 we are introducing tax relief for the lowest bracket of our fellow citizens, from €19,500 to €28,000. As a result, they will increase their disposable income.
Those who have an income below the tax threshold, and are understandably struggling, part of their social security contributions[BR] will be paid by the state.
For refugees, we need to take practical and feasible steps, recognizing the burden they have been carrying all these years.
Focusing on those who have no title to property, but also on those living in neighbourhoods with serious problems or in apartments that are in poor condition.
Specifically, we propose the construction of new housing, to be allocated to these refugees, by land developers in exchange for state-owned land or by granting an additional building factor.
In this way, there will be no financial burden for the state, but on the contrary, at a rapid pace, we will offer decent housing, with titles of ownership, to all the displaced persons who are entitled to them.
Friends,
The Democratic Rally is the guarantor of social and economic stability. The standard-bearer of growth and progress.
Even through the clouds of the new crisis, we see the opportunities for growth.
Even through the clouds of the new crisis, we see the opportunities for growth. And we plan a healthier tomorrow for our country.
We believe in a Cyprus that is ahead of the curve. That sees far ahead. Forward! That goes even further.
Giving priority to the new generation, to the welfare state, to the development of the productive forces of the real economy.
For a Cyprus free and united.
For a Cyprus that is a country of international reference.
For a Cyprus of international reference. An example of stability, an example of credibility, an example of European leadership.
That is why our party is the party of all Cypriots. The party that guarantees their future.
The 100 political axes today are a part of the bridge that connects us with the future.
And the future will be ours again. And it will take us very strong into the next day of our Cyprus.
Happy Birthday to all of us!
And even better days for our country!
Thank you.
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