With two months to go until the presidential elections, what kind of mood do you get from your contacts with citizens?
Although we are quite close to the presidential elections, citizens are still concerned, so the situation is quite fluid, as they are concerned about many current issues, while at the same time they do not see solutions to the daily problems that plague society, such as accuracy, immigration, the rule of law, social policy and many others. Day by day, the people are embracing more and more our Party, ELAM, since they see that we are with the people every day, unlike the others who see the citizens only in election periods.
What is the overriding issue in these elections? Why would anyone choose to vote for you?
There are many issues that are dominant in this election, such as the Cyprus problem, immigration, scandals, the economy and accuracy, as well as many others. Unlike everyone else, who say they can't do much, we say we are ready to do so much to solve their everyday problems. To the question "why would someone choose to vote for us" the answer is simple and these are the crystal clear and unambiguous positions of ELAM, which without half-truths and hollow promises, we have been walking all these years. On the contrary, we see the three leading candidates (according to the polls) having common positions and policies, without any substantial difference.
This is the second time you are running for the top state office. With what ambition?
The reality is that this is the second time I am running for the top statewide office because we want to give the people, the voters and our supporters an alternative to the establishment candidates. In an admittedly difficult electoral battle, we do not choose to hide behind the percentages of others to cover weaknesses, we do not choose to sell out our positions and opinions on the altar of the "chair" or a ministry, as many other parties do.
We are there, presenting our own political program, asking the people to honor us with their vote, so that we can honor them with our actions! In general, we consider it more honest to run as a candidate with your positions, even if your chances of being elected are reduced, but at least to fight a battle for your political beliefs. It's something society values.
You are realistic enough to know that your chances of being elected are slim. What is the goal and what is the benchmark? The 6.78% of the 2021 parliamentary elections or the 5.65% of the 2018 presidential elections?
In the 2018 presidential elections we had 5.56%, in the 2019 European elections we had 8.25% and in the 2021 parliamentary elections we had 6.78%. But the percentages don't really matter, it's the numbers that matter. What is the reality? The reality is in the numbers, which tell the truth. To be clearer. In the 2018 presidential elections we had 21,846, in the 2019 European elections (which according to the results we had the highest percentage) we had 23,167, while in the 2021 parliamentary elections we had 24,255.
What I want to demonstrate is that as the National Popular Front (NPC) we have a steady increase of voters in every election, which has now ranked us as the fourth parliamentary force in Cyprus. So to your question, our goal is to increase our voters which will send messages in all directions and will be a safety net against the political establishment.
You have stated that a strong ELAM in the first round can be a strong lever of pressure on the new government for the benefit of the country and our people. In what way? Will you attempt to inoculate positions of the two who will qualify in the second round?
I have stated the obvious, as a strong ELAM, as I have stated above, will be a safety net. I will not speak in assumptions, but I will speak in concrete results. Let me remind everyone that no one was talking about the huge problem of immigration, while we were accused of various ugly names. The rapid rise of ELAM resulted in everyone realising the huge problem of illegal immigrants, agreeing with us, while the Government has proceeded to adopt some of the proposals we have put forward.
Let me remind you of the setting of a minimum pension and minimum wage for all professions, for which Cyprus was the only European country that did not have a framework. With the entry of the National People's Front (ELAM) into the House of Representatives in 2016, we raised it for the first time and it has finally progressed.
Let me recall the new strategy on the Cyprus problem, where while everyone was trapped in a flawed framework of talks, ELAM has shown that there is another way, proposing a Single State solution. The examples are too many. But what I want to show is that a strong ELAM can influence everyone's policies for the benefit of society. Between the two rounds, there is a week where our collective bodies will meet and we will democratically make our own decisions. As a Party we have never excluded anyone. We are therefore open to dialogue with any party, as democracy demands. That is why we will also send a letter to the two remaining candidates, in which, among other things, we will ask our own questions on the basis of political positions. On the other hand, let us see who really respects democracy and will come to talk to ELAM, leaving aside fascist methods and authoritarian positions of the past that said "we do not talk to ELAM". Let them show in practice that they respect the institution of democracy."
In a recent interview, you said that all establishment and corrupt parties "support one of the three main contenders for the presidency, who are all just clones of the same government and the same political philosophy". Does it not concern you that these parties secure legitimacy from the vast majority of citizens?
This is precisely where voters need to realize that: as a sovereign people, they must punish with their votes all those who have brought them to their current situation. Accuracy, unpunished scandals, immigration, divestment and more. I call on our fellow countrymen and women to consider which party has stood by them over time and which party is their voice and always speaks the truth by claiming for them. ELAM is the only party that is not involved in scandals and that says everything that the others hide from the people. So the decision belongs to the people whom we call upon to have second thoughts for the good of our country and our children, for our survival in our tested land. The Cyprus of saints and heroes has been transformed by some into a Cyprus of scandals, corruption and the fall of morals and values.
I would like to remind you that Mrs. Anita Demetriou was elected President of the Parliament and with the vote of the MPs of ELAM, together with other parties to which you attribute the characterization of the establishment and corruption.
With regard to the election of Mrs Demetriou, let me simply recall the facts. Given the facts as they emerged during the vote, the National Popular Front fully exploited its regulatory role as the fourth political force in Cyprus, electing the new Speaker of the House of Representatives. At the same time, with its vote, ELAM blocked the way for AKEL to occupy the second highest office in the Republic of Cyprus. However, from the very first moment we clearly stated that our vote does not give a blank cheque to anyone. As we have demonstrated, our Party has continued to pursue its basic principles on the Cyprus problem, the economy, immigration, religion, the institution of the family, social policy, zero tolerance of scandals and corruption.
But to be even clearer. The position of the Speaker of the Parliament does not have executive powers to make policies concerning Cyprus, but clearly concerns the proper functioning of the Parliament. Therefore, we did not vote for political positions!
Are you worried that the citizens also rank ELAM among the systemic parties?
The citizens do not rank ELAM among the systemic parties, as our Party has never been, nor does it want to be, part of the system of corruption. Our name was never found next to headlines about scandals. This is a propaganda cultivated by the establishment parties, trying to stop the upward trend of the National Popular Front (NPA), while at the same time seeing the upward trend of patriotic - nationalist movements all over Europe.
What I will assure you. ELAM is not here for cuddling and power chairs. It is here because, like many of our compatriots, they are tired of the policies that have led them to the precipice. They are here because we believe that this people, this country, deserves a better future. And it is in this context that I am putting forward my candidacy, for real change, because we are putting Cyprus as our priority.
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