Akel general secretary Andros Kyprianou said on Saturday that the selection of businessman Mike Spanos as his party’s presidential candidate is not yet final as they still need to make clear that his positions reflect those of the party.
Speaking to the daily Politis after attending the protest held daily at the Ledra street crossing in Nicosia by Unite Cyprus Now, Kyprianou said the next days are crucial as to the outcome of the party’s consultations with Spanos on the latter’s positions on a number of issues.
He was commenting after Spanos made statements on Friday night to Sigma TV on a free market and less state involvement in financial matters.
Spanos said as regards the economy, even though he had difference of opinion with Akel as to the method, they had the same goals.
“I reassure you that with lower taxes and less state one can increase welfare expenditure and support of vulnerable groups,” Spanos said.
He added that the free market was a more efficient system than a centralised economy.
Kyprianou told Politis that in the coming days he would discuss his views with Spanos.
“There are many issues that I want to be clear. Nothing has been decided yet, we are in a process during which these issues will be discussed at the base level. Before we go to the extraordinary conference the principles on which Mr Spanos will base his candidacy must be made clear,” Kyprianou said.
He added that Spanos and the party already agree on a number of issues but that the party must have these on paper so that it can discuss them and decide during the conference, which is expected to take place next month.
Kyprianou did not rule out the possibility of the party and Spanos not seeing eye-to-eye.
In his interview, Spanos said that, if elected, he aims to bring about “a socio-economic revolution”.
He said that at the moment Cyprus’ political life was amputated as the economic crisis brought about a crisis in values too.
He pledged to bring pride back to the people, solutions to problems, the return of the youth back to Cyprus and the reintegration of the youth living in Cyprus.
Spanos said that his candidacy, if Akel decides to back him, will be an independent one. No social group will support someone who doesn’t have serious possibilities of being elected if there is no party backing, he said. “But that doesn’t mean that the independence of the candidacy is sacrificed, the least bit”.
He also said that, if elected, his cabinet would consist only of technocrats, “who had real jobs and who had real concerns whether they would take their salary at home at night”.
As to the Cyprus problem, Spanos said that Akel’s positions have been the most stable and clear. “I am fanatically pro-solution. I am a federalist, regardless of the Cyprus problem, I believe that federal systems are the most democratic ones,” he said.
He added that one of his best advantages was that he has management skills, which politicians usually lack.
Akel’s central committee announced on Wednesday it has decided to back Spanos as the party’s candidate in next February’s presidential election. The central committee will now recommend Spanos to the grassroots groups for discussion ahead of a special conference in July.
Spanos, 63, is a managing director of MS Business Power Ltd which provides consultancy services on strategic and business development (since 2008).
He has served on the boards of various companies and is also a former Central Bank director. He currently serves on the board of Bank of Cyprus as a senior independent director.
He holds a master’s degree in economics from North Carolina State University.
