The mass sale of ‘golden passports’ undermines the rule of law
Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 17th September 2020, Nicosia
In her speech before the European Parliament yesterday, the President of the European Commission referred in a strong way to the unacceptable violations of the rule of law in the EU, making a specific reference to the “sale of golden passports”. This confirms the magnitude and seriousness of the scandal with the “golden” passport industry that was set up in Cyprus by the Anastasiades-DISY government. She also confirmed that Cyprus has suffered great damage from the policy pursued by the government on this issue. Furthermore, she also confirmed that as far as the EU is concerned the issue far from over, a fact which increases the government’s responsibilities to confront it. Instead of doing so, the government is continuing its attempts to paint a rosy picture of the situation.
The government must make its self-criticism for the industry it set up by putting Cypriot citizenship on the market for sale, for the international shaming of our country, for the degradation of good governance and undermining of the rule of law.
