“GOD forbid, if as a consequence of the economic crisis, messages of pessimism are sent and we turn ourselves into the best allies of Turkish expansionist policy...” said AKEL’s presidential candidate Stavros Malas at the weekend. “Divisive messages must not be sent to the people, 38 years after the invasion, but messages of optimism and hope.”
He was echoing the comment made by President Christofias at the anti-occupation gathering, a couple of days earlier, when he said: “But leaders of all groupings cannot step up, deepen and multiply, from such platforms, the disappointment of people. We must give hope to people.”
The comments were primarily made in relation to the unsolved Cyprus problem, and were indicative of the condescension that arrogant politicians show for the people. What do they mean about giving hope to people? Are they suggesting that they should tell us lies, set unattainable targets or promise us that everything will turn out well, despite knowing that it would not?
Without meaning to, Malas and Christofias are implying people are neither intelligent nor mature enough to make up their own minds and require their wise leaders to encourage optimism and give them false hope about the future. All it would take were a few empty promises by political leaders and the people would look to the future with renewed optimism.
It is an antiquated view of leadership that thrived in under-developed democracies in which people unquestioningly accepted what they were told and showed excessive deference to politicians. These days are long in Cyprus. A growing proportion of the population have learnt to view the politicians with mistrust and a healthy dose of cynicism, which is why the abstention rate at elections keeps rising.
What message of hope and optimism could be given to people regarding the Cyprus problem? Would anyone believe Malas if he said that all refugees would return to their ancestral homes and Turkish occupying troops would pull out of Cyprus? Would anyone believe Christofias if he said that the fenced area of Famagusta would soon be opened to its Greek Cypriot inhabitants?
Rather than give people hope, such statements would make them laugh, as they have been hearing optimistic and hopeful statements about the settlement of the Cyprus problem for the last 38 years, with nothing ever happening. The politicians have failed spectacularly to deliver on their promises, over the years, thus disqualifying themselves from given hope.
The time when politicians could win over people with a few hollow slogans and empty promises is over. Messages of hope and optimism now have to be backed by a plausible action plan, because people have had enough of big words and lies.