AKEL has allegations that bank shareholders are involved in credit takeover companies
Statements by the General Secretary of AKEL S.Stefanou:
12 May 2023, “Dialogos” portal
The General Secretary of AKEL said that the Party has many complaints before it about the credit buyout companies operating on the basis of profit-seeking through foreclosures. Speaking to the Astra radio, Stefanos Stefanou said that some companies have been created by the banks, that bank shareholders are involved in them and that through the transfer of assets from banks to the companies in a non-transparent way, a selection of high-value plots of land in sought after areas is made, resulting in certain people buying preferentially these premium plots of land at very low prices.
Stefanos Stefanou questioned why the competent authorities did not act on their own initiative to investigate and identify any such cases. He also noted that the general silence of the authorities is worrying, saying that AKEL will continue to raise the issue of who is behind these companies, but also about the scrutiny and transparency of these companies.
On the “golden passports” scheme scandal, the General Secretary of AKEL pointed out that it is one of the challenges facing the current government. He noted that the Christodoulides government must move towards holding to account those responsible for the scandals that have plagued Cyprus over the past decade and bring those responsible to justice. He said the cases are glaring, stressing that it is a matter of the government demonstrating political will.
At the same time, S.Stefanou reiterated that AKEL will continue to push for a government policy that works for the benefit of the many and not the privileged few. He also reiterated AKEL’s position for the taxation of exorbitant profits, pointing out that on this issue the present government is following in the footsteps of the previous one.
- On the government’s attempt to secure appointments for its cronies – “We didn’t expect anything else”
Asked to comment on the question of abusive government appointments, the General Secretary of AKEL accused the Christodoulides government of attempting to “rehabilitate” cronies that was also happening during the Anastasiades administration. Speaking to ‘Astra’ radio, Stefanos Stefanou stressed that AKEL doesn’t expect this situation to stop, given that President Christodoulides himself declares that he will continue implementing the policies of the previous government. S.Stefanou also stressed that among the parties backing the government there is an attempt by each party to take care of their own.
