AKEL and PEO organize protest against cost of living in Cyprus

The political party AKEL and the Pan-Cyprian Federation of Labour (PEO) have announced a public mobilization scheduled for Monday, September 28, at 18:00 outside the Ministry of Finance in Cyprus. The protest aims to address the rising cost of living and surging fuel prices, calling for immediate government relief measures.

Among the specific demands are the permanent implementation of temporary relief measures, such as reducing the VAT on electricity to 5% and the automatic enrollment of eligible individuals into the '08' electricity tariff scheme. The organizers are also calling for the indexation and increase of social benefits, such as the Guaranteed Minimum Income (EEE), the abolition of double taxation on fuel, and the extension of the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to all employees. Furthermore, they advocate for heating subsidies based on income criteria, the reduction of consumption taxes on heating oil, and a call for higher taxation on significant wealth and corporate excess profits to fund housing policies.

This mobilization follows widespread public frustration over economic pressures. Protesters are invited to gather collectively to voice their opposition to current fiscal policies and demand structural changes to mitigate the financial burden on workers, pensioners, and youth.