By a very slim majority, the government of Cyprus forced through Parliament the European Union and IMF loan agreement and memorandum. By the 29-27 vote, the government has condemned Cyprus to the same genocide that has befallen Greece, Spain, Portugal, and other countries of Europe.
Green Party leader and MP George Perdikis, who voted against the agreement, said before the vote: "A 'yes' from Cyprus's Parliament is by far the biggest defeat in our 8,000-year history. Its democratically elected representatives have a gun to their head to agree to a deal of enslavement."
The former ruling AKEL Party, which holds 19 seats, voted 'no' and has called on Cyprus to leave the Eurozone. Before the vote, AKEL spokesman George Loukaides said his party has decide to vote against the loan agreement and the memorandum, knowing that "such a solution will most probably mean a decision for Cyprus to exit the Economic and Monetary Union." He added that while this choice could prove to be "painful," it is "a serious alternative that can give perspective to Cyprus economy, as the country will free itself of political commitments and other dependencies, which affect [such] issues as the Cyprus problem and the natural gas exploitation," according to the Famagusta Gazette. London's Financial Times reports that AKEL has released a 30-page alternative proposal on "how Cyprus can survive without the Troika and the EU-IMF support mechanism."
The Social Democrats Movement's (EDEK) five MPs also voted 'no', as did European Party MP Nicos Koutsou and independent MP Zacharias Koulias.
The ruling Democratic Rally (DISY) party, which has 20 seats, and its coalition partner, Democratic Party (DIKO), which has 8 seats, and European Party MP Demetris Syllouris, all voted in favor.
Outside the Parliament building during the voting, a new anti-memorandum movement, the Citizens' Alliance, held a demonstration. It was founded by former independent Presidential candidate Giorgos Lillikas and just held its first conference on April 28. They are demanding that the loan agreement and memorandum be put before a referendum. According to the Cyprus Mail, the Citizens Alliance urged other groups and trade unions to join their demonstration to "unite our voices ... with the sole demand of rejecting the memorandum."
Lillikas has said his movement wants to remove the country from the 'neo-colonial subjugation' of the EC-ECB-IMF Troika. He also does not rule out an exit from the Eurozone "after careful study." The Alliance includes former deputies from AKEL and the European Party, and has the backing of Zacharias Koulias.
