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Judging from the toned-down campaigns by all presidential hopefuls, even as the election race enters its final phase, a lot seems to be at stake this year, primarily reviving the Cyprus talks and proving the incumbent administration right (or wrong) on its over-optimistic economic forecasts.
Although one could rightly say that “we have heard this cliché before”, in fact, the regional developments do have a serious weight on any decision that could lead to progress, if any, on the
The power struggle among Middle East majors and their allies suggests that
This will also have an impact on Turkey’s energy ambitions, seeing that Cyprus has little military capabilities to fend off any aggression by Ankara into Cyprus waters, while our newfound allies, Israel, France and Egypt, together with Greece, would rather avoid any direct conflict with Turkey to defend their energy interests, for fear that this could lead to escalation that nobody wants. And President Erdogan’s gamble seems to have paid off.
On the other hand, the economy, that seems to be on a healthy growth path, remains unconvincing to the average Joe, despite the record in tourist arrivals, which industry experts say we should not celebrate about, as this boom is to an extent, due to a reduced interest for holidaymakers to choose rival destinations in our neighbourhood. On the other hand, the absence of major public infrastructure projects and the soon-to-expire home-for-passports scheme do not bode very well for state coffers beyond 2018, unless the private sector once again undertakes this burden and invests where the state has not.
But that, too, is in jeopardy as the flurry of cases with backhanders and political favours (or gross incompetence when it comes to checks and balances) keeps pushing
This suggests, as will be proven by the election process at the end of the month, that voter apathy has been overtaken by citizen apathy, with more and more people losing faith in the traditional forms of rule, party politics and social ideologies.
In other words, we have many problems that need fixing, and simply electing a bright new candidate or re-electing a dull incumbent is not the solution. It is time for the next administration to take up the role of looking after national priorities and not petty interests of party leaders or their corrupt officials. Remaining on the current path of inaction will be a disaster at all levels.
