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At last, the tedious election period comes to an end on Sunday with 70 Cypriots vying for the six seats in the European Parliament, itself a body that is suffering from major identity and survival issues.
The campaigns were as monotonous as a piece of wood waiting to be painted or burned in the fireplace.
The clichés were a notch less dreary, while some politicians tried to spark interest among apathetic voters by banging on the patriotic drum. How far from reality they truly are.
Voter apathy rises from the simple truth that with this bunch of buffoons governing the country, why bother?
Party leaders do not listen to the people, apart from the back-patting at cocktail parties and selfies with middle-aged voters who have just discovered social media.
Young people have once again been left out of the equation, with no one asking them the simple question: “what do you want?” let alone be willing to consider the answer.
Younger candidates have popped up on some party lists, but they have been left to fend for themselves, without proper support and guidance on how to run a campaign.
The most important issue that was hardly touched upon by almost any candidate was the environment. Everything has to do with the environment, and everything is linked to the environment. So, why have we ignored it?
A student movement, driven by the “strike on Fridays” campaign initiated by a young Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg has grown to a serious following with major events held throughout Europe on the eve of Euro parliament elections, getting candidates to pledge to do something if and when they are elected.
In Cyprus? You guessed right. Only 12 of the 70 candidates responded to the Youth For Climate initiative, pledging to place the environment on the top of their priorities in the new assembly.
So, young people are rightly asking, “who is the apathetic one here?” If only a dozen bothered to pledge their support, do these politicians really care about youth and the issues that concern them?
The environment and climate change are not issues that should be swept under the carpet. They are real and they are here, now.
Summers are getting hotter and dust concentration has been breaking dangerous levels more frequently in Cyprus.
The health fallout is a major hazard that rises from poor climatic conditions and if we don’t do anything today, what is the legacy that the current generation claims it is passing on to the next?
Voters of all ages should go to the polls on Sunday. And every other election Sunday to follow.
Such a major issue should not be left to the same people who ‘heroically’ withstood EU pressure in 2013 only to be slapped a harsher bailout plan, from which many people continue to suffer, despite sugar-coating the problem.
Young voters, especially, should be heard and the best way is to vote.
Perhaps, next time they can elect some decent and caring people to the European Parliament, the national House, the municipalities or even the Presidency.
