While the government is significantly increasing the budget of the housing plans for 2022, AKEL engages in its usual nihilistic and sterile policy and before even hearing the announcement of the government's revised and upgraded housing plans, is quick to characterise them as "reheated food". An otherwise "reheated food" for which the government has increased the total expenditure for 2022 to 125 million euros, an amount increased by 22.4% compared to 2021 and twice as much as in 2018.
At the same time, AKEL refers to the "soaring housing construction costs and the inability to provide loans to young couples", holding the government accountable for the results of the global economic recession caused by the pandemic.
And it is an oxymoron for an otherwise pro-popular party to criticise the government for its decision to donate to society for housing purposes a significant part of the revenue from future casino operations. The government's decision to fund affordable housing and affordable rent projects is exactly how we understand the social dimension of housing policy.
If for AKEL "decent, quality and affordable housing is a universal right for every citizen of the country", it is a wonder why it did not implement similar plans under its own government. The government of Nicos Anastasiades does not follow the practice of wishful thinking, but goes ahead and responds with projects and policies that meet the needs of modern society. The already implemented generous and the upcoming clearly upgraded housing projects that will be re-announced within the next few days by the Ministry of Interior, are not oriented towards outdated concepts that want the state to act as a land development entrepreneur, but actually supports citizens and young couples to acquire their own housing.
We therefore recommend that AKEL should not expose itself for the sake of its oppositional syndrome by making unsubstantiated statements and should wait to hear the announcements first. After all, citizens have taken a stand against our housing policy by submitting their applications in droves, and we have responded by tripling the appropriations for 2022, further improving the criteria of the projects. We urge them to be patient until 28 February.
(NG)
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