In a written statement, the Government Spokesman, Marios Pelekanos responds to AKEL for their statements on the economy, stating that "the economy, numbers, statistics have never been AKEL's privileged field".
"This is true in all sectors, but much more so in the so-called 'social indicators', which show a significant improvement in recent years and prove that even the most vulnerable of our fellow citizens are far fewer and in a much better situation than they were in 2013 when AKEL handed over the governance of the country, along with thousands of people without jobs and tens of thousands of our decent fellow citizens, forced to resort to social groceries even for basic necessities," he adds.
He argued that in 2013 the at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate reached 28%, while today it stands at 21%, which is historically the lowest level since 2005, the year data began to be recorded.
"In 2013, 16% were at risk of severe material deprivation, while today this rate has been halved," he said.
Concluding, Marios Pelekanos said that "we can cite dozens of relevant figures to prove to the Secretary General of AKEL that the government not only cares about the welfare of citizens, but also knows how to achieve it. Because the welfare of citizens is not achieved by aphorisms and slogans but by a coherent policy and by creating a strong protection network."
"Days like those of Easter 2013, when the vulnerable piled up outside social grocery stores, as a result of AKEL's disastrous economic policies, to get food baskets, will not be allowed to return," he concluded.
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
