Political Parties Dismiss Elam’s Alleged Immigration Proposal
In a recent development that has stirred the political landscape of Cyprus, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou has strongly criticized what was believed to be a proposal by the far-right party Elam. The contentious idea involved issuing passports to migrants, purportedly to encourage them to leave the country. However, Elam has firmly rejected these claims, stating that their views have been misconstrued and asserting that they never made such a suggestion, especially not in recent times.
Despite Elam’s denial, other political parties have not held back their disapproval, branding the alleged proposal as “dangerous.” Ioannou, echoing this sentiment in comments reported by Phileleftheros, deemed the idea both dangerous and impractical. He elaborated that such a measure would only serve to make Cyprus an even more appealing destination for migrants. Ioannou clarified the current process, explaining that individuals who qualify for asylum are granted a travel document or “laissez-passer,” which is in accordance with EU legislation and only allows for temporary travel, not permanent relocation.
The minister further highlighted that non-approved asylum seekers do not receive this document and are subject to deportation. He posed a rhetorical question to emphasize the potential consequences of indiscriminately issuing passports: “Imagine if we gave passports to everyone.” The ruling parties Disy and Diko have also chimed in, denouncing Elam’s supposed “brilliant idea” as naïve and counterproductive, urging an end to populist and impractical proposals.
Elam, on the defensive, has questioned the timing of these accusations, suggesting that they stem from a misinterpreted comment made during the last general election cycle. The party insists that their recommendation was limited to issuing temporary travel documents with the stipulation that recipients leave Cyprus immediately, not granting them Cypriot passports.
With the political debate intensifying, it remains clear that immigration continues to be a hot-button issue in Cyprus. As parties spar over proposals and their implications, the focus remains on finding viable solutions to manage immigration effectively while safeguarding the nation’s interests.
