AKEL’s expectations are rising, as the Christodoulides government resonates disappointment in the electorate and DISY, the party’s, main rival, engages in constant criticism of the president.
Although AKEL may not publicly declare its goals in relation to the upcoming June dual European and local elections, discussions regarding the scenario of AKEL securing the first position in the elections are gradually spreading within the party corridors.
This sentiment is reinforced by polls that come to light, such as the one published by the Reporter website a few days ago, which shows AKEL as the first party.
This scenario is strengthened by the ongoing internal problems within the Democratic Rally (DISY) and the negative impact it seems to have on the parties supporting the Christodoulides government, reflecting a negative image of the administration.
All these essentially pave the way for AKEL to achieve a turnaround after many years of steady decline and for the first time in the context of the European elections.
On the other hand, it seems that the problems of the center-right parties enhance the far-right, regardless of the implications this may have for the political scene. Reporter’s poll showed ELAM stabilizing as the third strongest political power.
However, it should be noted that, from the leadership’s perspective, the Left has been making careful and targeted moves to avoid costly mistakes.
This strategy is evident in:
- Avoiding apparent party disobedience, which seems to have resulted in the proactive handling of the phenomenon of party disobedience in the local elections. Party sources indicate that there were consultations and contacts with local groups throughout the previous period to find consensus and avoid more than one candidacy from AKEL’s sphere of influence. This approach has yielded positive results, at least in terms of major municipalities.
- Avoiding political isolation: Initially, when party consultations for party collaborations in the local elections began, the odds were not in favor of AKEL. The attention was focused on the efforts made by DISY, DIKO, and DIPA to form a broader alliance in as many municipalities as possible. However, the situation evolved differently, and today AKEL’s leadership can speak of the success of a series of party collaborations in several municipalities with DIKO, EDEK, and even DIPA in some cases. This development, beyond its significance for the upcoming electoral confrontation, is considered positive for communication and political reasons, as AKEL avoids isolation, having a basis that may signal future collaborations.
Simultaneously, efforts are made to organize the campaign properly and convey the message of the importance of AKEL’s upward trajectory, whether accompanied by a first-place finish or not.
Party officials are concerned about the complacency that may arise, especially since the elections are perceived as having low political interest, particularly for AKEL supporters.
There is a risk that people may not turn out to vote, and the positive political climate may not be reflected in the ballot box. This could impact the overall effort made by the party leadership to create a progressive alliance with an eye on the 2028 presidential elections.
