ELAM: putting the Greeks of Cyprus first
THE NATIONAL Popular Front, ELAM, is one of new four parties running for the parliamentary elections of May 22 and seeks to give a voice to the “Greeks of Cyprus”.
The main battle grounds for ELAM are the Cyprus problem, immigration and education.
Vital to their efforts is the support of a “combat-ready youth, just as the times demand.”
ELAM calls for the state to implement policies “to protect the interests of the Greeks of Cyprus”, said ELAM head and Nicosia Member of Parliament candidate Christos Christou.
“The Cyprus problem is one of Turkish invasion and occupation,” Christou said.
As such, all crossing points should be closed as free movement “sends the message there is no problem of occupation”, Christou said.
“The Turkish Cypriots are not our brothers. On whose side were they during the 1974 invasion?” Christou said.
The history of the Republic between 1960 and 1974 has demonstrated that Turkish and Greek Cypriots “cannot live in harmony”, Christou added.
For ELAM the only viable solution is to have a strong central government to cater to the Greeks of Cyprus and to the extent that it must, also to minorities including the Turkish Cypriots.
Part and parcel of bringing the focus back to Greek Cypriots includes strengthening the national guard and having a Greek education which does not “eliminate our history for the sake of a fake reunification”.
A very important issue for ELAM is that of immigration.
“We are not against foreigners. This is a myth,” Christou said but added that the state should control the influx of immigrants, including asylum seekers and legal job seekers from outside the EU.
ELAM’s believes Cyprus has been overwhelmed by large numbers of immigrants resulting in an increase of unemployment and crime.
“We should call a spade a spade; it’s not our concern what will happen to these immigrants when they leave Cyprus. We care about the survival of the Greeks of Cyprus,” Christou said adding that only the necessary foreign workforce should be allowed entry.
ELAM is fielding a total of 16 candidates, four for Paphos and Nicosia and two for the remaining districts of Limassol, Famagusta, Larnaca and Kyrenia.
Find out more on their website (Greek only) www.ethnikolaikometwpo.blogspot.com.
ZYGOS: Fighting corruption on the inside
THE INDEPENDENT Citizens Movement, Zygos, is seeking to radically change party politics by becoming part of the political system.
The admission of four new parties in the upcoming parliamentary elections by itself shows that “the absolute rule of parties is over”, Nicosia candidate John Cannas said.
Though this sounds contradictory as Zygos is itself one of the newly registered parties, Cannas claims it is not.
“The only way to change a situation is from within,” Cannas said adding that Zygos aims to be a watchdog over parties and politicians.
One of Zygos’ primary tenets is the introduction of horizontal voting so that people can support individuals who best represent them irrespective of their party.
“Members of parliament serve party interests first and citizens second,” Cannas said.
Zygos aims to keep a close eye on economic policies to fight corruption and interest-driven backstage agreements.
Zygos said that one of their proposals is to reduce wages and pensions for members of parliament and to restructure the public sector so that it does not only exist to accommodate public servants and “to serve party interests”.
On the Cyprus problem Zygos support a bizonal, bicommunal federation and on health they are among those who want to see a National Health Scheme finally set up.
In terms of the environment, Zygos are mostly in agreement with the Green party in wanting to promote recycling, renewable sources of energy and the preservation of biodiversity.
“If politicians continue lying to people we will continue growing,” said Cannas.
Zygos has a total of ten candidates, three in the Nicosia and Famagusta districts, two in Limassol and one each in Paphos and Larnaca.
Find out more on their website, www.zygos.org.
KYPROS: practical politics
THE CYPRUS Progressive Cooperation, KYPROS, has pledged to use any profit they make as a party towards an applied social policy to benefit the public.
The policy involves offering practical help by experts who can help the public claim their rights and help with locating and applying for European Union funding.
New bills in parliament will be proposed “based on the real needs and problems of the Cypriot public”, said KYPROS’ head, psychologist Thekla Petridou.
“All bills will be checked for constitutionality,” Petridou said, an allusion to bills such as the one on the refugee status of the children of refugee mothers which was rejected as unconstitutional by the Attorney-general.
KYPROS’ position on the Cyprus question is that is a problem of invasion and occupation and current proposals on the table are “not a viable solution”.
KYPROS is in favour of joining the NATO-led Partnership for Peace programme which is “Cyprus’ ticket to fully participate in the European collective security system,” Petridou said.
A harsh stand on immigration and immigrant benefits is also necessary, Petridou added. “The scandal of the immigration policy has made racists out of Cypriots.”
The minimum wage should be applied across the board and jobs should be available to those who have a good knowledge of the Greek language, Petridou said.
Education should have a Greek focus and assimilate non-native speakers, she added.
“I want, and I dare, to take on politics because I believe a ‘crazy’ psychologist of my kind is needed, a good kind of crazy, who can try to psychoanalyse the Cyprus parliament,” Petridou said.
A total of 28 candidates are running for elections, 11 in Nicosia, six in Larnaca, five in Limassol and two in Paphos, Kyrenia and Famagusta.
Visit www.theklapetridou.com for more information.
LASOK: arming the underprivileged
THE CITIZEN’S Rights Bureau of the Popular Socialist Movement, LASOK, wants to set up free bureaus and tribunals where members of the public can arm themselves with knowledge and appeal state decisions.
“We have already helped thousands of people on a purely voluntary non-profit basis,” said Limassol candidate Marios Matsakis, the outspoken and controversial former MEP, referring to the citizen’s bureau in Larnaca set up nine years ago.
It was the vision of a bureau in every district which drove Lakis Ioannou to create LASOK.
Legal fees prohibit most members of the public from seeking legal advice and information even when they are in the right, Ioannou said.
Ioannou further proposed this week that council estates should be built in all municipalities where those receiving state benefits can rent with the prospect of eventually buying their home at discounted prices.
On the Cyprus problem LASOK believes that a bizonal federation would not work and Cyprus should look for alternative examples of federal government.
In terms of education, “there should be a crackdown of the [private sector] running parallel to the state,” Matsakis said referring to the private tuition industry catering to students who need to study and prepare for exams.
“Cyprus is a small country and some exceptions from European Union regulations must be made especially in the case of agriculture where our produce is small but our expenses high,” Matsakis said.
But Cyprus faces a “very serious problem” in regards to immigration, Matsakis added.
We must have stringent limitations on the number of EU workers allowed to seek employment in Cyprus, said Matsakis.
A total of 17 candidates are running with LASOK, five in Larnaca, four in Famagusta, three in Nicosia, two in Limassol and Paphos and one in Kyrenia.
Find out more at www.lasokparty.com.
