On Saturday, AKEL Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou, on Saturday welcomed the international symposium organized by the party in Nicosia to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Cyprus (KKE), which evolved into AKEL in 1941. Welcoming the delegations of left-wing parties and movements from abroad, Mr. Stefanou emphasized that their presence reflects the internationalism and solidarity that characterize the Left’s actions.
“We at AKEL strongly believe in the unity of the Left through the diversity that characterizes its parties and organizations, as well as the disagreements that may exist—even on various issues,” noted the AKEL Secretary-General, adding that “this unity must be based on a common political agenda guided by its fundamental values and positions.”
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
A central point of his speech was the rejection of the “TINA” (“There Is No Alternative”) logic. As he noted, powerful economic and political interests are attempting, through the economy, the media, and technology, to present as self-evident the idea that there is no other way to organize society. He noted that the theory of “the end of history” is making a comeback, even though its originator, Francis Fukuyama, has revised key aspects of it.
“The Left must step forward and prove that ‘There is an alternative,’” Mr. Stefanou emphasized, describing an alternative that includes policies promoting peace and a more equitable distribution of wealth, channeling resources toward social policies and public infrastructure rather than toward military spending and wars, strengthening democracy, transparency, and accountability, defending individual and collective freedoms and rights, and countering the far right and its racist, bigoted, and warmongering policies.
This, he said, can be achieved through two interrelated pillars: on the one hand, a political program to address these problems, and on the other, the Left’s vision for Europe and the world.
Describing the international environment, he spoke of intensifying geopolitical rivalries, a proliferation of armed conflicts, and the prevalence of the logic of power at the expense of international law. He attributed inequalities, insecurity, and social exclusion to the neoliberal model of capitalist management, which, as he said, has dominated for nearly four decades: wealth is concentrated in fewer hands, labor rights are under pressure, and the welfare state is being weakened.
He argued that the neoliberal promise of prosperity through market dominance has been disproved and that the discussion about moving beyond capitalism is not a theoretical inquiry, but “a pressing political and social necessity.” He warned, at the same time, that the rise of the far right and neo-fascist forces is one of the most dangerous developments of our time, as it exploits insecurity and anger, diverting discontent away from the real causes.
Mr. Stefanou emphasized that the Left is judged by its actions and not merely by its theoretical discourse. Its mission, he said, is not an easy one, because it is not enough to defend its ideas; it must also convince people that they offer a realistic response to society’s needs. He summed up this position in the phrase: “The Left has a duty today to build the future it envisions.”
He also added that international cooperation is becoming increasingly important, as big capital has entrenched its dominance in international organizations such as the IMF, the World Bank, and the WTO, while in Europe this is institutionalized through EU policies.
In closing, he said that what is needed is a Left that is “militant and modern, with deep roots in society, ideological self-confidence, and political credibility,” which will be at the forefront of the struggles, will cooperate on issues that unite it, and will engage in frank and respectful dialogue where disagreements exist. He declared the Symposium open, expressing confidence that the discussions would strengthen their common struggles.
Source: CNA
