AKEL Celebrates 100 Years of Communist Movement in Cyprus

Addressing the gathering, AKEL General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou paid tribute to generations of communists, workers and activists whose struggles shaped the history of the party and the wider labour movement in Cyprus. The event, titled “At the Edge of the Thread”, celebrated a century of political organisation, social struggles and contributions to Cypriot society.

Stefanou described the party's history as one written through “struggles, sacrifices, anxieties, dreams and creativity”, emphasising that it belonged not only to those who built the movement but also to the workers and people  Cyprus.

Recalling the conditions that led to the founding of the CPC, Stefanou highlighted the exploitation and deprivation experienced by workers in the early twentieth century. He credited the pioneering communists with organising workers and farmers, building the labour movement and fighting for the eight-hour working day, social insurance, healthcare and workplace protections.

“Nothing was handed to society. No right came on its own. Behind every right there is a struggle,” Stefanou stated, recalling the persecution, imprisonment and sacrifices endured by generations of activists.

AKEL General Secretary also highlighted the party's historical role in promoting education and culture, organising young people and supporting women's participation in public life. He described the development of a strong labour movement and a democratic political tradition as among the party's most significant contributions to Cyprus.

Addressing the Cyprus question, Stefanou reaffirmed AKEL's commitment to ending the Turkish occupation and the island's de facto division, advocating the reunification of Cyprus and continued cooperation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

Looking towards the party's future, Stefanou argued that the centenary should serve as a source of strength for current and future struggles rather than simply an occasion to commemorate the past. He pledged that AKEL would continue fighting alongside workers, young people and those challenging social injustice, against economic privilege, exploitation and the concentration of wealth.

The celebrations continue on Saturday, November 7, with an international symposium entitled “The Left in the Contemporary World”, bringing together representatives of communist, left-wing and progressive parties from around the world to discuss the challenges facing the Left and its role in the twenty-first century.

Concluding his address, Stefanou reaffirmed the party's commitment to socialism, peace and social justice, declaring: “For the many, with the many. For a Cyprus free, peaceful and prosperous. For another world that is possible.”