Cyprus-Forum.com

[Bananiot]

AKEL has labeled Grivas a criminal on many occasions. However, during the vote in the House of Parliament all the representatives of AKEL supported the motion to declare Grivas a worthy son of Cyprus. Paradox, you might think. Not quite, if you really know AKEL. This party never had a stomach for confrontation with the establishment. It is one of the most conservative parties in the world, believe me. Gone are the days of people like Ziartides and Servas, they were true internationalists and did not mince their words. Take Christofias's antiques with Mehmet Ali. He is accusing Talat day and night and this happened not just recently but it has been going on for a few years now. There is no doubt the current leadership of AKEL is leading the party astray. The unholy alliance with arch nationalist Papadopoulos is another example of the paradox. I do not know my friend, to laugh or to cry?

[Piratis]

the current leadership of AKEL is leading the party astray

I agree, for the exact opposite reasons. As I said before I voted AKEL for parliamentary elections but not for EU elections.

In the end AKEL has to drop its double face and decide if it will act in the way that the majority expects from it to act, or it will do what people like Bananiot want, and see its power cut in half.

Just a question: You know very well that by itself AKEL has no chance to win presidential elections. If it wants to be in power, the only way to do it is to side with DIKO and EDEK. So what do you think AKEL should have done in the presidential elections? please answer, I am really interested.

[Bananiot]

Are you asking me? You know the answer! AKEL commands 35% of the vote and DIKO with EDEK 20%. You know the answer very well; you are the one proposing that the majority has the upper hand in all cases. AKEL should provide the President and the policies, they are the majority by far. Aint't it?

What you voted in the recent elections is of little interest to us. The fact remains that AKEL lost 7% of its votes in the euroelections because of its antiques with Papadopoulos and his miserly chauvinist party that is supposed to be centre, but in reality is on even par with Le Pen and the National Front of the UK.

[Piratis]

Are you asking me? You know the answer! AKEL commands 35% of the vote and DIKO with EDEK 20%. You know the answer very well; you are the one proposing that the majority has the upper hand in all cases. AKEL should provide the President and the policies, they are the majority by far. Aint't it?

I was talking about the majority of all Cypriots, not majorities withing party combinations. It is true that it would be more fair if the bigger party provided the president, but the aim was to win the elections, and not to simply have a candidate. Papdopoulos proved very successful as a candidate since it won from the first round.

The fact remains that AKEL lost 7% of its votes in the euroelections because of its antiques with Papadopoulos

Thats your conclusion. Can you justify it? The only parties that saw increase in their percentages were DIKO and EDEK, parties that support Papadopoulos policies. Maybe 1-1.5% of AKEL supporters didn't vote for it for the reasons that you said. But the biggest percentage didn't vote for AKEL for the exact opposite reasons and the numbers prove it.