AKEL is seriously concerned that President Nikos Christodoulides may end up on the same political stage as ELAM and DIKO leader Nikolas Papadopoulos, possibly as early as the first round of the 2028 presidential elections. The warning came from the party’s parliamentary spokesperson, Giorgos Loukaides, who also confirmed that AKEL has not yet decided whom it will back in the race.
Speaking on Politis radio 107.6 and 97.6, on the programme “Defteri Matia” with Andri Daniel, Mr Loukaides said the prospect is a source of serious concern for his party. He said the concern covers the direction of the country, the functioning of institutions, democracy, the protection of human rights and, above all, the Cyprus problem.
Concerns over cooperation with ELAM
Mr Loukaides used particularly harsh language, describing ELAM as “a covert, camouflaged Golden Dawn of Cyprus”. He also referred to the party’s relationship with Nikos Michaloliakos, the convicted former leader of Golden Dawn.
He asked whether Nikos Christodoulides and Nikolas Papadopoulos are troubled by the prospect of cooperating with ELAM, or whether they consider such a development politically acceptable.
“It bothers us and, of course, it frightens us with regard to the prospects of this country, its institutions, democracy and the protection of human rights,” he said. He added that AKEL’s concerns relate primarily to the impact such cooperation could have on the Cyprus problem.
Call for the President and DIKO leader to respond
Mr Loukaides called on the President of the Republic and the DIKO leader to state their positions publicly. He said that so far neither has responded to AKEL’s warnings.
According to Mr Loukaides, this lack of clear positions raises questions about whether an attempt is being made to politically normalise ELAM.
Stefanou candidacy not ruled out
Mr Loukaides said AKEL has not settled on the person it will support in the 2028 presidential elections. He left open the possibility of a purely party candidacy. Asked specifically whether, in that scenario, the party’s Secretary General, Stefanos Stefanou, could be the candidate, he did not rule it out.
“We have drawn up the political profile of the candidate. We have not yet found the person,” he said.
He explained that the Central Committee has decided to keep all options open until consultations are complete with the party base and with the political forces and figures AKEL hopes to cooperate with.
Mr Loukaides said potential candidates have not yet been ranked and no specific names have been prioritised.
He said particular weight will be given to electability, because the effort for progressive change must come with a real chance of winning the election.
Limited room for cooperation with DIKO
On possible political alliances, Mr Loukaides did not rule out contacts with DIKO, despite its participation in the Christodoulides government.
He acknowledged that there are voices within DIKO critical of the government. However, he said that as long as the party remains a main pillar of the governing camp, the room for cooperation is extremely limited.
“The room is minimal, not to say non-existent,” he said.
He also left open the possibility of contacts with EDEK and DIPA, provided the right political conditions emerge and the two parties change their stance towards the government.
Priority meetings with ALMA, the Ecologists and Volt
Mr Loukaides was more specific about ALMA, the Ecologists and Volt. AKEL intends to seek meetings with them as a priority to explore cooperation ahead of the presidential elections.
He said the aim is to build a broader political alliance that expresses the pursuit of “progressive change” in the governance of the country.
Criticism of DISY’s opposition role
Mr Loukaides also criticised the Democratic Rally (DISY) and questioned its role as an opposition party.
He said that although DISY describes itself as an opposition party, its positions and conduct in parliament largely match those of the Christodoulides government. “The paradox is that they declare themselves the opposition and behave like the governing camp,” he said.
As an example, he cited how DISY, DIKO and ELAM voted on a resolution AKEL tabled in the House of Representatives, which called for information to be handed over on the fund of the President’s wife.
According to Mr Loukaides, the rejection of the resolution shows that these parties do not differ in substance from the government on transparency and accountability.
Final decisions after consultations
Mr Loukaides linked the current government to the political system of the Anastasiades era. He argued that real change cannot come from candidacies that represent a continuation of the same policies.
He said AKEL’s final decisions on the presidential elections will be taken once consultations are complete with the party base and with the political forces that could join a broader alliance.
