Ο ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΙΚΟΣ λόγος που η ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΗ δεν χαμηλώνει το ΡΕΥΜΑ!

Summary

At a cross-party rally against high electricity bills, the main speaker thanked attendees and representatives from political and civic groups for joining forces. He said Cyprus has some of the most expensive electricity in Europe and argued that years of poor planning have contributed to the problem, including delays in developing natural gas and expanding solar power without sufficient energy storage.

The speaker said high bills are hurting pensioners, families, and small businesses, while also driving up the cost of goods. He alleged that the government has little incentive to reduce bills because it collects more VAT when electricity prices are high. He called on the government to address the issue rather than rely on temporary measures.

The campaign’s proposals include:

• Keep VAT on electricity at 5% permanently, instead of allowing the temporary reduction to expire.
• Seek temporary relief from EU-related emissions costs, which the speaker said contribute substantially to bills, while Cyprus upgrades its electricity system.
• Return a portion of the roughly €200 million collected annually to consumers, particularly vulnerable households.
• Correct market distortions and limit excessive electricity prices or margins, while encouraging genuine competition among suppliers.
• Introduce dynamic pricing to encourage households to use surplus solar power at midday, making use of smart meters.
• Develop natural-gas capacity and energy storage, including incentives for batteries.
• Improve transparency about how the electricity market operates and how generation decisions affect prices. The speaker raised concerns that some power stations may be starting earlier than necessary, potentially affecting market prices.
• Publish clear information about major projects, including the cost and conditions of a proposed electricity interconnection, before decisions are made.

The speaker urged the president and government to hold a public discussion about the proposals. He criticized what he described as a dismissive response and invited the president to join him for a podcast discussion. He said the protest was only the beginning of continued pressure for lower electricity costs.

Presenters and Contributors

• Fidias Panayiotou — main speaker, based on the video’s channel and context.
• An invited “Mr Georgios” was called to the podium at the end. The subtitles do not establish his full name or include his remarks.
• The speaker acknowledged attendees from AKEL, the ecologists/Green movement, and the Animal Party, as well as MPs and an MEP. The subtitles do not reliably identify all of them by name.