Anastasiades needs to abandon his authoritarian and degrading practices against those disagreing with the government’s policy

Statement by AKEL – Left – New Forces Parliamentary Spokesman Yiorgos Loucaides on statements by the President of the Republic

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 29th November 2019, Nicosia

President Anastasiades, addressing leading officials of “Change”, the teacher’s organization in secondary education allied to the ruling DISY party, has yet again spoken about parties “guiding” secondary school pupils.

This is not the first time Mr. Anastasiades has underestimated and depreciated school students. He did the same when he underestimated and vilified educators, also characterizing them as “being led by parties”.

Evidently those who disagree with him and the anti-pedagogical measures being implemented by his government are – according to Mr. Anastasiades himself – “party-driven” people.

Even when these very educators approved decisions by an overwhelming majority through referendums against the Anastasiades government’s anti-education measures.

Even when educators organized the most massive mobilizations in the field of education since the founding of the Republic of Cyprus.

We urge Mr. Anastasiades to abandon his authoritarian and degrading practices against all those who disagree with the government’s policy and to show more respect for the democratic functioning of institutions as well as more respect towards secondary school pupils and teachers.