The left-wing Akel party has outlined ambitious plans for its resurgence and forging a ‘social alliance’ during its latest constitutional congress, as revealed by General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou.
This revival strategy, as per Stefanou, aims to re-establish Akel as a primary choice for its supporters, potentially leading the party or significantly boosting its influence to contend for governance.
The congress’s secondary agenda focused on nurturing a broad social alliance, a vision Stefanou had announced previously. This approach draws on Akel’s historical evolution: its expansion in the 1940s to encompass wider societal concerns while adhering to its Marxist-Leninist roots, its 1990s outreach in response to changing times, and its current commitment to ongoing dialogue with the civic community. The effectiveness of this alliance is key to achieving a progressive majority, a goal underlined in Stefanou’s speech.
The party is set to test its new strategy in upcoming elections, with the 2026 parliamentary elections, coinciding with Akel’s centennial, marked as a significant milestone for assessing the social alliance’s impact and the party’s broader societal appeal.
Chrysoulla Antoniou, a member of Akel’s Central Committee, inaugurated the congress. She highlighted the extensive democratic discussions among Akel members and the party’s duty to uphold its century-long legacy and its responsibilities towards the Cypriot populace.
The congress also featured international perspectives, with messages from Adel Amer of the Communist Party of Israel, Bassam Salhi of the Palestinian People’s Party, and Abdullah Attari, the Palestinian Ambassador to Cyprus. These messages focused on the urgent need to end the conflict in Gaza and the Israeli occupation, emphasising solidarity with the Palestinian people.
