CYPRUS ISSUES
- There are both historic opportunities and significant risks for Hellenism and for the Hellenism of Cyprus.
- In light of current geopolitical developments, Cyprus is gaining strategic importance due to its geographical position. We must take advantage of this reality.
- There is no political will on the part of Turkey to resolve the Cyprus issue. Through the ongoing occupation, Turkey seeks to gain influence over the rich energy reserves of the Eastern Mediterranean, while also expanding its influence over Arabic-speaking Muslim populations. This brings Turkey into conflict with Egypt, Israel, and the Gulf monarchies. Cyprus therefore needs a multidimensional foreign policy strategy and must take advantage of Turkey’s shifting regional ambitions.
- Strengthening cooperation with other countries and building strategic alliances is essential so that Turkey remains isolated and is ultimately encouraged to adopt a more constructive stance.
- The European Union should impose sanctions on Turkey so that it fully realizes the cost of the invasion and the illegal occupation.
- Cyprus, together with Greece, must strengthen its role as a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- The energy resources of the Eastern Mediterranean can contribute significantly to securing the European Union’s energy needs.
- The deterrent capabilities of the National Guard should be further enhanced in cooperation with Greece and other allies, in order to counter the neo-Ottoman ambitions of Tayyip Erdoğan and the so-called “Blue Homeland” doctrine. The President of the Republic of Cyprus is doing very important work regarding foreign policy and the Cyprus issue.
Economy & Development
LIMASSOL… THE DRIVING FORCE OF THE CYPRIOT ECONOMY… THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN LIMASSOL MUST REFLECT THE CITY’S CONTRIBUTION TO GDP!!!
- Maintaining high growth rates and a favorable investment environment, combined with policies aimed at improving citizens’ quality of life.
- Reducing energy costs and expanding subsidy schemes for the installation of photovoltaic systems and the energy upgrading of buildings.
- Extending the tourism season, while improving and promoting the country’s tourism product.
- Simplifying licensing procedures and public sector processes in general, which currently act as obstacles to development.
- Improving the road network and officially registering roads as public roads, especially in rural communities, in order to address traffic congestion and strengthen development.
- Developing infrastructure projects in both urban and rural areas that also take into account the mobility needs of persons with disabilities and mobility challenges.
- Implementing proper urban and regional planning in both cities and rural areas — creating more residential zones and ensuring organized planning of agricultural and livestock farming zones.
- Enhancing the competitiveness of the economy.
- Strengthening the primary sector through modern production methods.
- Creating subsidized small-scale industries in communities focused on traditional products.
- Promoting local products.
- Establishing geographical indication labeling for products originating from local communities, in order to enhance their competitiveness.
- Exempting CAPO (Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organization) subsidies from taxable income calculations, as well as from eligibility calculations for the Guaranteed Minimum Income and the small pension allowance.
Education
- Empathy – Promoting the teaching of empathy within public education.
- Quality and modern education – study programs that respond to the needs of modern society and the economy.
- Investment in knowledge and innovation – strengthening research, technology, and digital skills.
- Connecting education with the labour market – appointing a career guidance counselor in every school to identify each student’s skills and abilities, and, in combination with labour market research, provide the best guidance for their studies and future professional path.
- Equal access to learning opportunities – supporting all pupils and students so they can fully develop their potential.
- Appointing an Educational Psychologist and a Social Worker in every school in order to combat bullying, delinquent and abusive behaviour, and the use of addictive substances by students.
- Expanding the institution of all-day schools, while simultaneously working toward reducing the need for private tutoring in subjects already taught within schools.
Health
- Accessible healthcare services for all – strengthening the public healthcare system and ensuring equal access for citizens to high-quality healthcare services.
- Upgrading infrastructure and equipment, while strengthening human resources – modern hospitals, technological modernization, and improved care services.
- Supporting medical and nursing staff – investing in healthcare professionals and improving working conditions.
- Emphasis on prevention and primary healthcare – prevention programs and strengthening healthcare services within local communities.
- Establishing arrangements to ensure that patients from rural communities and remote areas can reach hospitals as quickly as possible.
- Hiring sign language interpreters within hospitals to better serve our deaf fellow citizens.
- Establishing minimum qualifications for caregivers of elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and individuals who are unable to care for themselves independently.
- Introducing stronger safeguards for the protection and sustainability of the General Healthcare System (GeSY), as one of the most important social benefits enjoyed by citizens.
Youth
More opportunities for young people through education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and culture.
- Greater opportunities for young people – supporting their education, training, and professional development.
- Strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship – promoting programs that encourage creativity and new ideas.
- Supporting youth employment – creating quality job opportunities and career development prospects.
- Encouraging the active participation of young people in society – strengthening their involvement in culture, sports, and public life.
Environment
- Protecting natural wealth – preserving biodiversity and safeguarding natural ecosystems.
- Promoting green development – investing in renewable energy sources and sustainable practices.
- Addressing climate change – implementing policies that reduce emissions and strengthen the resilience of cities and communities.
- Environmental awareness and education – enhancing public awareness and encouraging citizens’ participation in environmental protection.
- Planting vineyards and traditional trees on uncultivated agricultural land.
- Planting vineyards with full EU funding support, also as a fire protection measure.
- The Christodoulides Government has already introduced a €4 million plan for vineyard replanting. However, within Cyprus’ new Strategic Plan 2028–2034, vineyard cultivation and carob cultivation should also be included alongside cereals as environmentally friendly agricultural initiatives.
Housing
Addressing the housing crisis through:
- The construction of jointly owned residential buildings on state-owned land and the allocation of housing units to low-income individuals and families through a long-term rent-to-own scheme with affordable monthly payments.
- Increasing the building density coefficient in residential areas in order to reduce the construction cost of apartment buildings and, consequently, lower the sale and rental prices of the housing units created.
- Providing tax deductions on rent payments, or part thereof, accompanied by a corresponding reduction in rental costs.
- Expanding the “Renovate and Rent” scheme through state grants.
- Expanding the remaining housing schemes offered by the Ministry of Interior.
- Creating more residential zones, particularly within local communities.
- Increasing the financial allowance for the first settlement of young couples in communities and expanding the number of communities eligible under this scheme.
Traffic & Transportation
Addressing traffic congestion through:
- Improving public transportation and strengthening the bus fleet with smaller, more flexible buses, while creating additional bus stops and more frequent routes.
- Creating Park and Ride facilities — allowing citizens to leave their cars in peripheral public parking areas and travel to their destination by bus.
- Creating additional entry and exit points to and from areas connected to the city center through roundabouts.
Migration
- Distinguishing between political refugees and economic migrants.
- Ensuring the rapid examination of applications, with the immediate rejection of applications lacking valid grounds, accompanied by the prompt deportation of the applicant.
- Conducting strict screening of applications for possible links to terrorist organizations or religious extremism.
- Creating disincentives for economic migrants by providing low-level benefits to applicants, sufficient only to cover basic living needs.
- Strengthening controls to combat undeclared employment.
- Enhancing social integration programs for applicants granted international protection.
- Cooperating with Frontex to strengthen the control of the European Union’s maritime borders.
- Implementing stricter controls — including satellite monitoring by the National Guard — along the Green Line and at crossing points for individuals entering from the occupied areas.
- Promoting the distribution of political refugees among all European Union member states.
- Making every effort to preserve the demographic balance, culture, religion, principles and values, and cultural identity of our country.
Citizen Participation
Open dialogue, transparency, and the active participation of citizens in decisions that affect their lives.
- Strengthening democratic participation – ensuring an active role for citizens in shaping policies and decision-making.
- Open dialogue and public consultation – creating more opportunities for citizens to express their views and exchange ideas.
- Transparency and accountability – strengthening trust between the state and society.
- Utilizing digital participation tools – modern platforms that facilitate communication and citizen engagement.
Social Policy
- Finding the right balance between economic development and the well-being of citizens.
- Strengthening volunteer organizations that operate support structures and social care services.
- Modernizing legislation to ensure the proper operation and oversight of support structures.
- Ensuring that cities, communities, public buildings, private and public facilities, services, roads, and sidewalks are fully accessible to persons with disabilities and individuals with mobility difficulties.
- Employing unemployed individuals under special conditions to help combat illegal parking (especially in disabled parking spaces and on sidewalks), public nuisance, and animal abuse.
- Simplifying the procedures for receiving benefits and strengthening the staffing of the Social Welfare Services so that applications and appeals can be examined within one month.
- Exempting disability benefit applicants from repeated medical board examinations when their disability has already been certified by a GeSY doctor or by a specialist abroad to whom they were referred by the State and whose expenses were covered by the State.
- Strengthening the Public Employment Service in order to improve controls against undeclared employment, while also making greater and more targeted efforts to help unemployed individuals find work.
- Enhancing HRDA (Human Resource Development Authority) programs so that the skills and abilities of unemployed individuals can be identified more effectively for employment placement.
- Providing incentives from the State for unemployed individuals to create their own businesses based on their skills and abilities (for example, through state-guaranteed loans).
- Expanding welfare support policies to also cover long-term patients who are forced to remain outside the labor market for extended periods of time.
Vision for Society
A society with equal opportunities for all, transparency in governance, and genuine support for citizens in their everyday lives.
- Equal opportunities for everyone – investing in education, knowledge, and the potential of the younger generation.
- Social cohesion and solidarity – supporting citizens and protecting the most vulnerable groups.
- Transparency and citizen participation – a modern state that operates with credibility and open dialogue.
LISTEN, ADVOCATE, DELIVER
- Close and direct cooperation with the Executive Branch to ensure that laws passed by Parliament are not deemed unconstitutional.
- Frequent meetings with authorities, institutions, and organized groups in order to identify problems and work toward the best possible solutions.
- Regular updates to citizens regarding the work and actions of the Member of Parliament.
- Providing citizens with the ability to communicate directly with their Member of Parliament regarding issues affecting them personally or affecting groups within society, as well as to express concerns, ideas, suggestions, and constructive criticism.
MESSAGE
With cooperation, trust, and vision, we can build a better future together for everyone.
Members of Parliament should propose and vote for laws that place people at the center — in all aspects of human life: people with disabilities, low-income citizens, individuals facing chronic health conditions, children, young people, and the elderly.
What truly matters is respect for every human being.
With sincerity toward citizens and genuine concern for the needs of society, we can create a better future for all.
Because progress comes through vision, cooperation, determination, and hard work.