Cyprus' Election Empowers The Politocracy

 

For some, the elections in Cyprus have ended in absolute euphoria. For others, it was a dismal disappointment. For better or worse, the people have made their choice and Nicos Anastasiades, the DYSI candidate and a familiar face in the Cyprus’ political scene for the last 32 years, was elected President of the Republic of Cyprus.
He will will be faced with serious financial, political and social problems never encountered before by any other president, an unenviable predicament. He inherited a near-bankrupt state, a disillusioned electorate, rising unemployment, a crippling economy and little prospect for improvement in the foreseeable future  unless the country secures a 17.5 billion euros loan, which may easily convert into misery.
He campaigned hard and pledged to form a ground-breaking government that will “pleasantly surprise” everyone. His leadership persona paid off handsomely but the mere fact that he chose old party faithfuls (not even a single woman) to form his new government, nor any independently-minded “top brains” as he pledged, not only sends out mixed messages, but raises questions of integrity. The honeymoon could be rough.
All the political parties in Cyprus are the creation of the same old school, producing petty politicians with the a self-serving party mentality. Parties are meant to be representative of the people’s rights, but that presumption has been thrown out the window. The ideal of “peoples’ representation” has been replaced by a new and a dangerous trend that thrives on social manipulation and spin as a means to gain and maintain power.
This phenomenon is commonly known as Politocracy or Kommatokratia in Greek. It means that a new political elite class has evolved out of the old school, whose loyalty is to their own political party and every action taken is in the best interest for the Komma (Party) and not necessarily for the people.
This loyalty is being exploited big time. Some political parties demand from party-member parliamentarians, mayors, commissioners and others for the salaries to go straight into the party coffers. The party then pays their wages less an amount deducted for the benefit of the organization. Such commitment it’s driven by blind Kommato-patriotism and the more one does for the advancement of the party, the greater the personal rewards that are granted based on nepotism, not merit. This suits everyone well, like one big happy family.
Alongside Politocracy another new phenomenon has emerged on the sly, an elected dictatorship that has grown powerful and governs outside the boundaries of democratic principles. Like a chameleon, it constantly changes colors to deceive. Reinforced by Kommatokratia, it governs under the presumption that its priorities are to serve the people but it’s the opposite. Both these two new classifications serve as channels for personal ambitions and the fortification of the political hierarchy.
If an island had only one resident, he or she would be considered the law of the land and there would be no need for a political party. But when a second person arrives, so does compromise. When more people arrive, there are more demands and social groupings begin to formulate, often in opposition to one another. And yet, living with one another becomes of necessity where the respect of differences of opinion will exist on how to accomplish certain goals. It’s a prerequisite that formulates the cradle of all political parties: the free expression that prepares the stage for groups to influence their opinions on others under the illusion that it’s beneficial to all.
PLATONIC POLITICS
The priority of all political parties is to increase membership and win elections. There is strength in numbers, and those political groups realize that the majority of people habitually behave like sheep and can be manipulated into the fold by silver-tongued politicians. Using the power of suggestion, people can then be conditioned to go with the flow,  just like fan behavior at football matches and in rallies. It is no surprise that most politicians behave likewise by using shallow promises to win votes and soon forget about them once elected in office.
Democracy has unfortunately been “bastardized” by the establishment of this Kommatokratia phenomenon. Plato, the founding father of democracy, was never a staunch supporter of democratic rule, believing that in the end this flawed political system encourages corruption, dictatorship and nepotism.
He realized that a minority elite could find the ways and means to dastardly rule the majority. Owing to political inexperience and a strong tradition in dogmatism, Cyprus has been deeply submerged into such an appalling practice from the very day of its independence. Plato’s predictions came to fruition.
Holding elections today has become a formality and appeasement to voters as a means to legitimize elected dictatorships. A universal system prevails where governments have become a cozy affluent political culture and support one another. A “them” and “us” society has developed within the echelons of extreme power.
Kommatokratia in Cyprus has been nurtured and allowed to blossom into an overwhelming privileged class where it lodged its influential tentacles in every nook and cranny of society. Although it is unpopular, the general public has come to tolerate it on the presumption that they need it. They believe there is nothing they can do to alter the course of events and stay silent and learn to live with a flawed system. This public tolerance stems from political immaturity driven by a ghoulish party loyalty and lack of meaningful media information.
Politically linked, the mass media in Cyprus has not acted responsibly to present independent unbiased reporting. It shares part of the blame for consolidating and perpetuating the current political climate of Kommatokratia. The concept that a well-informed citizen can make well-informed decisions has been utterly ignored for political and financial motives. The less the public knows, the greater the political advantages.
Since no qualifications are necessary to get into politics, Politicocracy has provided the perfect springboard for the ambitious to climb a privileged social ladder. The cherished idea of Meritocracy – a quality that builds great nations – has been ignored and substituted by cronyism. Protected by the status quo, Kommatokratia has managed to establish a nation where this political class has become “untouchable.” Unless this mass political influence is reduced, things will not improve but deteriorate.
Change requires the free spirit to decide, knowledge and reasoning to do the right thing. With meaningful education and constitutional changes that is conceivable. People can then be in a position to tell the government what to do – through the democratic process of referendums as in Switzerland, and not the other way around. Politicians are not more intelligent than citizens when it comes to making decisions that affect their lives.
The myth that politicians “in the interest of the public,” have a mandate to act and do as they wish is a fallacy. The 113,282 (21.32%)  abstentions from voting tell a different story. Add the 179,547 (21.4%) of legal citizens who are not permitted to vote on national elections (just like in the Athenian democracy) and then one recognizes how a select minority rules a marginalized majority and creates, the growing trend of an elected dictatorship! It is even worse in the European Union, where the Commission is not elected, but appointed. So much for democracy.
The noble principle of meritocracy that drives nations to prosperity and the gateway to a fair society is a long way off. If the new government in Cyprus truly means to “pleasantly surprise” everyone, citizens will hail victory for common sense when Kommatokratia finally reduces its stranglehold over the country and society.