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The outgoing parliament is probably not the best that we’ve had in the past six and half decades, with the 56 deputies, probably not the brightest of shining lights in our recent history. We have witnessed one gaffe after the other, resulting in a serious lack of trust in the political system. Then again, we deserve the politicians we elect.
That is why the only fresh message we have heard in the past few weeks has been the controversial campaign by the “New 56” that has called for voters to punish the existing House by electing a totally new one.
On the other hand, some say this campaign is driven not by the need to resolve the Cyprus problem, stamp out corruption or revive the economy, but by a personal vengeance of a single investor who got burned when the Laiki deposits vanished into thin air and savers at Bank of Cyprus saw their money confiscated to bail out the troubled lender.
Whatever the motive, this is the only sane voice we have heard for many years, as we continue to be tortured by a diet of cacophony that party leaders of all shapes and colour blurt out on a daily basis, with no one saying anything of essence or substantial value that will help us rebuild the tarnished image of our flimsy economy.
Opinion polls show a worrying disappointment by ordinary folk of all ages who are seriously thinking of abstaining on Sunday, many arguing “why bother?”
The trouble is, whatever the outcome of the May 22 elections, the same faces will resume their seats, following like sheep what their herders have been feeding them all these years. Reform has been on everyone’s lips recently, but change is not welcome in the House of Representatives, where MPs have purposely delayed or watered down legislation to suit their electoral needs. One of these unlikely reforms is that despite the “new 56” campaign gaining ground among all political streams, the leaders are automatically elected as they do not have “preference crosses” next to their names on the ballot, unlike countries such as the UK, where even the Prime Minister has to go from door to door to ensure he is elected in his constituency.
As much as we would like to vote in a completely new parliament, the fact that the six main parties will automatically elect their leaders shows the sorry state of our democracy.
But at least, for now, let’s elect 50 new members and we can deal with the party leaders later.
