#EDONews (Bulletin - November 2017)

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his year, for the first time, written exams was held for teachers to register and classify into the list of appointees teachers. Although the legislation that have been voted in 2015 provided specific time schedules, the Ministry of Education handled the matter, with stunning sketchiness trying to make the exams happen before the Presidential Elections.

Exams material, papers samples and the samples of answers had not been notified in-time for the candidates. Few hours before the exam the candidates was notified with personal messages that the time of the exams, had been changed and that an additional exam will also take place.

The climax of this situation came on Monday 6/11/17 when the papers for the exams of Religious, Physical, Informatics, Chemistry and Physical Education had been published on the internet half an hour before the exam’s starting time.

It’s easy for everybody to question; why the papers of the exams was in the offices of the Ministry even before the exams had started?

After this incident the reliability and the fairness of the exams, has been undermined.

The government of Anastasiades – DHSY and the Minister of Education instead of taking their responsibilities they have created a myth about sabotage, having as a purpose the misleading of the public opinion.

For yet another time the government proves the incapability of functioning with correct procedures, and give the young people the chances they deserve.

It’s easy for everybody to question; why the papers of the exams was in the offices of the Ministry even before the exams had started? After this incident the reliability and the fairness of the exams, has been undermined.

The sketchiness in which the government handles the issue of the teacher’s exams, is nothing more from another proof of the indifference of the governors for the public education.

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Huge environmental impacts The environmental impact was indicated by the Department of the Environment. If the development progressed, about 3,000 trees would have to be cut off, and among others, the water quality of the “Kourris” Dam, which supplies hundreds of households, will be affected.

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New facts that involve the President or the first time since the creation of Cyprus Republic, a President is personally involved into personal scandals.

After blurred procedures and with dozens of questions, a Russian businessman and the company “Parnitha Developments Ltd” chose from all the villages of Cyprus, the President’s village of “Pera Pedi”, to build a large hotel.

This development includes properties of the President himself and his family members, which were sold as seen in the company, months before the final licenses were given.

Two different explanations of the President for what is applicable When the first evidence came to light from the newspaper “Haravgi”, a presidential statement said that “it does not concern any property belonging to him”. The next day, the President announced that he owns all of a sudden the 1/12 of the block, noting that his mother had given it to him. This statement also includes the tumultuous reference for “a small part”, which is the size of a football field.

The President has in fact acknowledged that he is the co-owner of the piece sold to the company for this development. It is also noted that under threats, he had “pledged” that he would give details about the subject, he has not done so for some weeks. He then asked to be audited by the Auditor-General of the State, who is not in a position to control such issues.

Something confirmed by the Auditor General himself.

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The announcement of the Cadaster Department reveals that the President concealed that he was also a co-owner in another land property that was transferred to the company and exploited for development purposes. He conceded that he had swapped this piece of land just before the town development application was filed. It is noted that this item is not mentioned anywhere in the company’s environmental study.

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olls are a part of pre-election everyday life and reflect the image of electoral body on the time that it’s been held and also of the trends that people have. It is a research method for capturing and investigating the attitudes, opinions or behaviors of the population or population groups through selected questions.

More specifically, the Presidential elections in Cyprus are always of great interest because the people are called upon to vote for the “lord of the state”, and the people are particularly interested in opinion polls.

Based on the above knowledge, pollsters know they can form public opinion from a poll. To form an opinion not for the settlers and the core of the voters of a party or candidate, but on the undecided people.

Recently, there have been 3 polls that show Nikos Anastasiades as the winner (but who does not remember the 2008 polls showing the then presidential candidate T. Papadopoulos as the absolute favorite for the presidency of the state) and a struggle between Stavros Malas and Nikolas Papadopoulos for who will pass in the second round.

What counts from polls is the trend (fluctuation) of the same poll over a different period.

No conclusions can be drawn in absolute numbers (percentages), since the phenomenon of hidden vote is now strong.

Nicolas Papadopoulos has unofficially launched his campaign for a year (and officially since May), while Stavros Malas is officially a candidate for the presidency since September.

What counts from polls is the trend (fluctuation) of the same poll over a different period. No conclusions can be drawn in absolute numbers (percentages), since the phenomenon of hidden vote is now strong.

What hangs out is when the 3 polls have wide discrepancies between them. Queries arise from the fact that companies conducting polls involve people from the narrow working environment of the candidates.

Questions also arise from the disproportion of a party’s, increased voter’s alignment with party’s decision, in relation to the percentages of the candidate it supports.

What we say is that, whatever the election polls say, in the end Stavros Malas will be the next President of the Republic.

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t’s obvious that the President of the Republic and candidate for the next presidential elections Nicos Anastasiades, have been setting up his election campaign for 5 years now. From where to start?

Economy From the increase of the buses fares for 75% and implementation of fares in the student’s buses? From the continued cuts of the budget for the students allowance and change on the criteria resulted the reduction of beneficiaries? The cuts of the social welfare? Government have continuously cut the social welfare for four and a half years straight, creating financial “reserves”. Now just a few months before the elections the governors have suddenly become merciful. Announcements are announced one after the other. Most of these were 2013 commitments that were not implemented.

Election Campaign using state structures The president in addition to all of the above, in favor of his campaign is using the state structures to build his campaign. Nicos Anastasiades chaired in 14/11/17 the so called “Informal Ministerial Council” with the participation of hundreds of youth. In 28/11/17 Youth Board of Cyprus helds an event under the title “Youth Board of Cyprus: New goals. New era” under the auspices of the president. These are just a sample of how the state structures is been used in the election campaign and the pre-election period has not increased yet.

With Stavros Malas we are united for the future Us EDON we call on the youth of Cyprus to turn their back on Nicos Anastasiades and joint the struggle for the candidacy of Stavros Malas.