Nicos Katsourides (left) pictured with AKEL party chief Andros Kyprianou

Prominent AKEL figure Nicos Katsourides, who was indefinitely suspended in 2015, issued a statement on Friday backing Stavros Malas for the presidency.

“As a member of AKEL, I want to declare my support for Stavros Malas,” Katsourides said. “A candidacy approved by overwhelming majority of AKEL members.”

In May 2015, AKEL had indefinitely suspended the 66-year-old over his alleged involvement in the Dromolaxia scandal, but stopped short of putting Katsourides out to pasture. The party was now prepared to review the matter, according to its leader Andros Kyprianou.

In the past few days, rumours claimed Katsourides would return to the fold to help rally the AKEL rank and file, giving them an edge to leapfrog DIKO’s Nicolas Papadopoulos and make it to the runoff ballot.

The main aim of this effort is the solution of the Cyprus problem, to liberate and reunify our country, without occupying troops, guarantees, guarantors, and a Turkish overlord, he said.

“A solution that would create a functional and viable state, an island of security, a bridge of peace and growth in the region,” his statement said.

Fair burden sharing and a fairer distribution of national wealth to the benefit of workers will also be pursued at the same time, Katsourides said.

Kyprianou welcomed the statement.

“Nicos Katsourides was one of the prominent members of AKEL for decades,” Kyprianou said in a statement. “His decision to actively support Stavros Malas’ candidacy certainly satisfies us.”

He reiterated that AKEL has no members to spare and it had always treated is members positively.

“That is how it will function now. It will revisit the matter that concerns him after the presidential elections.

With just over a month away until next year’s presidential elections, on January 28, candidates are gearing up to rally together the party faithful, supporters as well as those who have not yet decided who to vote for.
The main contenders for the top job, Nicos Anastasiades, Stavros Malas, Nicolas Papadopoulos, Yiorgos Lillikas and Christos Christou, are making extra efforts to try and persuade voters about the validity and correctness of their proposals on a number of key issues, including the Cyprus problem and the economy.

Stavros Malas says a Cyprus settlement is the first priority in his program, which he presented on Tuesday 19 December. The presidential candidate notes that after his election, he will unequivocally accept the UN Secretary-General’s position to continue with negotiations from where they stopped and will ask the Turkish Cypriot leadership to do the same.
He is in favour of preserving existing convergences, as well as the framework proposed in the summer by UN Secretary-General Guterres. He says he will pursue a comprehensive settlement on the basis of the agreed framework for a bizonal bicommunal federation with no guarantees and no right of intervention.
On the economy, Malas proposes a more “balanced” model for development that will ensure sustainability and will support primarily workers, as well as businesspeople. He also proposes granting incentives to high-tech companies, supporting agriculture and the manufacturing industry and promoting research, innovation and youth entrepreneurship through a national fund.
Other proposals relate to the reduction of NPLs and introducing relief measures for uninsured deposit holders who sustained losses during the 2013 financial crisis.
Malas, who is running as an independent candidate, is supported by the main opposition AKEL party.

He and the other contenders will submit their candidacies on Friday 29th December, at the Filoxenia Conference Centre in Nicosia.
According to a press release issued by the Press and Information Office, the first candidate to submit his candidacy will be Haris Aristidou at 0900 local time, followed by Christakis Kapiliotis at 09:30 and Andreas Efstratiou at 09:45.
At 1000 Michalis Mina will submit his bid, followed at 10:15 by ELAM President Christos Christou.
Malas will submit his candidacy at 10:30 followed by Democratic Party leader Nicholas Papadopoulos at 11:00. George Lilikas, who is backed by his party Citizens’ Alliance will submit his bid at 11:15.
Incumbent President Nicos Anastasiades, who is seeking re-election will be the last to submit his candidacy at 11:45am.
A runoff election is set to be held on February 4, 2018, if necessary.