Ever since the Turkish military invasion of 1974, which divided the island in two, the people of Cyprus have been unlucky, especially with their leadership. They have systematically been indoctrinated by a political elite not to resist political subjugation: until now. Without a choice, unsuspecting citizens were never given the option of learning the real truth behind political decisions, except what is fed to them by the prevailing political parties and the media. This dark side of social manipulation is made possible because most of the press and national broadcast media is controlled (directly or indirectly) by special interest groups loyal to specific political parties.
The “Right to Inform” on the island has always been a victim of circumstances due to a political strategy that infiltrated every nook and cranny of the nation. The education system, public and private institutions, labor unions, farming industry, wholesale food distributors, football clubs and many more are all politicized. Nothing moves unless the political masters and union bosses give their blessing.Amidst the uncertainly of an international and domestic economic crisis, Cypriots next year will elect a new President. Election fever has set in and people are now being bombarded by the customary old rhetoric and shallow campaign promises. The 2013 elections however, are different from those before.
This is due to the unexpected presence of the Independent candidate Yiorgos Lillikas who wants to spoil the party. A well-informed ex-foreign minister of the previous Papadopoulos government, he has taken the historic initiative to fight against all the odds, without the backing of any of the established political parties. He has placed his chances of winning solely on peoples’ judgment. His challenge is a daring risk that nobody had the courage to undertake before. For Cyprus politics, this is a revolutionary move that could jeopardize the cozy status quo and reduce the appalling stranglehold political parties hold over society.
His announcement to run shocked the political parties and the government. Fearful of their own chances, they quickly branded his candidacy with contempt but seem worried, fears that are valid. A new development has also arisen to cause an additional headache for the politicocracy: the growing number of people who say they won’t vote.
Faced with this worrisome scenario, the political elite is in total disarray on how to bring back lost voters, which promises to tip the political scale. The Independents grew out of frustration and disillusionment, especially with the present government and this group could be the deciding factor in the elections.
In the last elections, 135,000 people abstained from voting and the numbers could rise next year. Disillusioned by the shenanigans, lies, corruption, rising unemployment and lack of accountability, this faction will most likely punish the existing political parties one more time.
Under the real likelihood of losing, the ruling AKEL party, is out in full swing to debunk the opposition, while the right-wing opponent DISY is desperately attempting to make deals with smaller parties under the grand illusion that it will succeed in forming the next government. The ongoing mud slinging, accusations and countering between the major parties have reached new lows in Cyprus politics.
Unfortunately, citizens have become a captive audience and fall for the behavior of politicians in defense of their own candidates. Nonetheless, people have wised up and can see through those petty tactics that are simply aimed for political point scoring. The smaller parties cannot agree on anything, which puts Lillikas in a strong position.
Could he surprise everyone and win? Although he is not aligned with any major party, polls show he has a shot. If not elected by a majority on the first round of the elections, public perception has it that he could succeed in a second round. It could happen because citizens can no longer trust the political elite, which has reduced the nation to a pauper state.
WHO DO YOU TRUST?
They blame politicians, bad government policies and uncontrolled squandering swamped by scandals, corruption, unaccountability and blatant practices of nepotism. The ruling party’s candidate, Health Minister Stavros Malas has an uphill battle to convince citizens he’s their man. Voters do not trust his party and government for making a mess of the economy. Within four years they have managed to transform a 600 million euros surplus into an estimated 18 billion euros deficit, causing the country to seek a bailout from the European Union and put 45,000 people out of work.
For a nation that boasted zero unemployment and strong currency only few years back, this has destroyed hopes for a better future. Voters will certainly punish the government at the ballot box for its incompetence and for bringing in international lenders with austerity measures that will cripple the economy.
Nicos Anastasiades and his DISY party have also a record to shake off, their staunch support and active campaign to convince people to vote in favor of the UN Annan Plan to re-unify the island with occupying Turks to create a two-state solution (partition of the island under some form of pseudo-federation) but was soundly defeated, with 76 percent of people in opposition.
This leaves Lillikas as the independent outsider who will most likely attract a large number of the votes from all sides but especially from the “abstention camp.” With their direct support and the support of the disgruntled members of other parties as well as the refugees’ movement, his entry to the second round seems ensured unless something drastic happens between now and then.
Will he be good for the people and the country? The alternative of voting for the status quo is obvious to most people who are not convinced that a better future is forthcoming if they vote for those same old political parties who brought the country to ruin. Lillikas could be the man who will sow the seeds for a new democratic revolution.
His political independence and election win may introduce new ideas free from political dogmatism and lure young politicians, academics and independent brains with groundbreaking policies based on social values and the Rule of Law and Meritocracy void of corruption and nepotism, what Cyprus desperately needs. That depends on his policies win the hearts of the people. – Andreas C. Chrysafis
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