Akel’s central aim in the 2028 presidential election is “progressive change” delivered by a united effort of forces, secretary-general Stefanos Stefanou said on Wednesday.

Speaking in Nicosia at the presentation of the book “Studies on the History of the Left in Cyprus”, Stefanou said the change must rest on “a common progressive programme” and end in victory at the polls.

“Experience had shown that in a world dominated by the institutions, policies and power of big capital, a left-wing government faces great challenges and dilemmas”, he said.

Stefanou said Akel’s ability to shape a political agenda with broader goals was “the objective basis of collaborations”.

He recalled earlier alliances, among them the United Front of Workers and Employees of Limassol in 1943 and the National Liberation Coalition, which operated from 1948 to 1953.

He traced the party’s relationship with power to 1962, when its 10th Congress decided to give Archbishop Makarios critical support.

Akel claimed no part in government and set no conditions beyond “the defence of Cypriot independence”.

It later made agreement on a programme for governance a condition of backing any candidate, he said, as with the Minimum Programme of 1983 in support of Spyros Kyprianou and again in 1988 with Giorgos Vassiliou.

The next stage was Akel’s entry into a governing coalition, with its own cadres serving in the government of Tassos Papadopoulos.

Stefanou said the left wing “must listen to the needs of society, firmly defend workers, democracy, peace and other universal values, join forces and transform demands into collective action”.

Akel asked House president Annita Demetriou on Monday to explain how a parliamentary hall came to host the launch of a cross-party group of MPs working with the Israel Allies Foundation (IAF).

In a letter, Akel parliamentary spokesman Giorgos Loukaides asked who requested the Pentadaktylos conference room, who approved its use and on what grounds.

He also questioned “who paid for the event and what commitments the MPs have taken on”.

The letter calls the formation of such a group inside parliament as “unprecedented”, with Loukaides proposing that the House institutions committee examine whether the code of conduct covers MPs joining networks that “promote the interests of third countries”.

He wants the issue on the agenda of the next meeting of party leaders and a clear framework for similar groups, “covering disclosure of funding and use of parliamentary resources”.

The letter says the event last Wednesday sits “uneasily” with a decision at a leaders’ meeting, where parties reaffirmed that House premises are solely for parliamentary or party activity.

A similar row has likewise emerged in Greece, as opposition parties have demanded an explanation over a reported meeting in Athens between Greek politicians and an IAF delegation.

A request by Direct Democracy to host an event on its “truth commission” initiative in parliament was withdrawn after that discussion and moved to the House of the Citizen near parliament.

Six MPs founded group

Six MPs announced the IAF group last week and later met President Nikos Christodoulides, those being Andreas Apostolou and Chrysis Pantelides of Diko, George Karoullas and Charalambos Petrides of Disy, as well as Sotiris Ioannou and Marios Pelekanos of Elam.

It followed a Cyprus chapter of Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI), launched two weeks earlier with MPs from the same parties.

Akel’s letter also raises the foundation’s political aims, as the IAF itself campaigns for an undivided Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, which “conflicts with UN Security Council Resolution 478”.

The letter points to European Parliament rules barring certain informal groups on third countries from using its facilities.

Akel first lambasted the move last Thursday, calling it “extremely provocative” and accusing the three parties of turning the House into a “lobby for Israel”.

It also decried the government, citing ministers’ attendance and the president’s reception of the foundation’s leaders.

Disy responded by asking whether Akel wanted to be “on the same side as Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and Turkey”, asserting that establishing closer ties with Israel was “a strategic choice”.

Pantelides, who heads the Cyprus chapter, has assured that members pay their own costs and receive no money from the foundation.

He said he paid for the launch dinner and coffees, and that any funded trips would be fully disclosed.

He said cooperation with Israel had brought “significant help in defence” and security equipment.

The foundation, set up in 2007 by Rabbi Benny Elon, has groups in 68 parliaments, including 25 EU states.

Akel general secretary Stefanos Stefanou has denied that the party made any approach to economist Tassos Yiasemides, saying he had only seen the KPMG partner in a photograph and would recognise him at a social event because of it.

Speaking on Politis radio on Monday, Stefanou said neither he nor any other member of the Akel leadership had contacted Yiasemides regarding a possible presidential candidacy.

He said no list of candidates had been drawn up and that names would be discussed only after talks with other parties.

Reports last week had tipped Yiasemides as having been put forward at a meeting with Akel leadership on the recommendation of former Edek leader Nikos Anastasiou.

Yiasemides, who heads the economics department at KPMG Cyprus, neither confirmed nor denied the reports at the time.

“I read them, I hear them, but there is nothing I have to say at the moment,” he said.

Stefanou also did not rule out standing himself in the 2028 election, saying the option was “within the party’s field of vision”.

He said Akel’s priority was to agree a common programme with other forces before turning to names, with the aim of backing a candidate around whom as many parties as possible could gather.

“Any candidate would need to meet requirements on the Cyprus problem, the economy and society”, he said.

Akel will begin a round of contacts with opposition parties, including Alma, the Ecologists and Edek, whose conference is due in December.

Stefanou said dialogue with Diko was not excluded but faced two difficulties, those being that Diko is a main supporter of a government whose policies Akel opposes, and its current leadership “has moved significantly to the right in recent years”.

On Andreas Mavroyiannis, the party’s last candidate in 2023, Stefanou said his announcement that he would run regardless of Akel’s decision did not affect the party, as he was an independent figure.

“Akel had kept in touch with him since the last election and would not oblige anyone to follow a set choice”, he said.

Stefanou rejected suggestions that Akel was late in preparing for the vote, retorting that it was other parties who have “rushed, pushing the country into a premature and prolonged campaign” more than 16 months before the election.