A “people’s poet,” a labor activist during his college years, and politically active. This is the youngest member of the Cypriot Parliament, Ephraim Christou, who has been sitting in the AKEL benches since last May.

Appearing as a guest on the Alpha Summer show, he described himself as a restless spirit who, through collective struggle, seeks to contribute to the common good. As he noted, his involvement in politics was a major challenge for him, as he believed that through it he could offer even more to society.

At the same time, he spoke about the hard work behind political work, emphasizing the importance of daily contact with citizens. As he said, he makes a point of attending events and festivals, not merely for the sake of making an appearance, but mainly to talk with people, listen to their concerns, and stay attuned to the needs of society.

“Things are worse than I expected”

When asked how his first month in his new role went and whether reality lived up to his expectations, Efraim Christou noted that certain situations are even worse than he had anticipated.

As he put it, the silver lining amid the difficulties is that, from his current position, he has the ability to highlight important issues and apply pressure so that solutions can be put in place and the necessary actions taken.

“People are reluctant to make concessions; these days, people appreciate an apology.”

At the same time, he highlighted another negative phenomenon that, as he argued, he often observes in public administration: the reluctance to take responsibility. “It’s hard to admit mistakes,” he noted, explaining that one agency often shifts the blame to another. As he emphasized, citizens appreciate a sincere apology, but also concrete actions to correct mistakes.

He then cited examples of inefficiencies that, as he said, are found in various ministries. He referred, among other things, to the issue of prefabricated classrooms, noting that letters on the matter have been sent but no response has been received so far.

“The issue of prefabricated classrooms is one about which we have sent letters and are still awaiting a response. Responsibility is being shifted to the school boards, though I do not wish to downplay the efforts made by the Ministry of Education,” he noted.

He added that this specific issue does not concern the Ministry of Education exclusively, but requires coordination with other ministries as well, such as the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Transportation.

At the same time, he noted that he serves on parliamentary committees dealing with issues related to agriculture, internal affairs, and transportation, which allows him to closely monitor a range of issues of concern to citizens.

“I am deeply concerned about the housing crisis,”

said Mr. Christou, referring to the difficulties young people—and especially young couples—face today, not only in acquiring their own home but also in coping with the rising cost of living.

“You can’t just watch young couples struggling to survive, without dreams and without prospects. Especially in Limassol, the situation is even more difficult,” he noted.

In closing, he referred to the initiatives AKEL has undertaken regarding the housing issue, making special mention of the workshop the party organized to present specific proposals for addressing the problem and supporting young people and families.