AKEL party criticizes government budget for the culture sector in Cyprus

The political party AKEL has formally expressed its strong disappointment regarding the government's budget for the cultural sector in Cyprus for 2027. The party accused the administration of President Nikos Christodoulides of failing to honor previous campaign commitments, resulting in insufficient support for the arts and cultural infrastructure.

According to AKEL, the proposed budget for the Deputy Ministry of Culture constitutes only 0.42% of the total government expenditure. The party claims that, when adjusted for inflation and fixed operational costs, actual funding for the sector is effectively reduced. Specific grievances include the removal of funds for the Department of Antiquities and the Modern Culture sector, alongside the complete absence of new developmental projects. AKEL specifically highlighted the lack of progress on the construction of a modern Cypriot library and a museum of modern and contemporary art, describing these omissions as a deception of the public.

AKEL is now calling for an immediate revision of the budget to better align with the needs of the cultural community and to ensure that previous state promises are upheld. The party continues to scrutinize the overall functionality and performance of the Deputy Ministry of Culture since its establishment.