Corruption and institutional interwoven interests have risen sharply during Anastasiades-DISY administration
Statement by Aristos Damianou, member of the Political Bureau of AKEL and MP on International Anti-Corruption Day
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 9th December 2020, Nicosia
December 9 was designated as International Anti-Corruption Day, since on that date in 2003, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Anti-Corruption Treaty.
In recent years, our country has been at the centre of criticism and, unfortunately, not without reason. During the administration of the Anastasiadises-DISY government, corruption and institutional interwoven interests have risen sharply. And it is regrettable that Mr. Anastasiades, in an interview he gave to a Greek media outlet just yesterday, not only did not acknowledge his own irrevocable responsibilities and those of his government on the issues of institutional interwoven interests and corruption, but he also told us that he even has a complaint and that he is being treated unfairly with the criticism leveled at him.
Obviously, Mr. Anastasiades is not concerned about the fact that the World Bank in its Report for 2018 reveals that the Republic of Cyprus has recorded the biggest increase in corruption indicators. And unfortunately he pretends not to know that the Republic of Cyprus – at this precise moment – is being held accountable to the European Union in an infringement procedure on the “golden passports” scheme.
The problem of institutional interwoven interests and corruption in Cyprus is huge. And everyone must make their own contribution in the effort to combat these dangerous and unacceptable phenomena instead of shifting responsibility on others.
AKEL will continue to contribute to the effort, submitting proposals, criticising any wrongdoings and promoting legislation that will tighten and strengthen the capabilities of the state and its structures, in order to address these unacceptable phenomena. We believe that the government must do the same, abandoning its bad practices.
