More than 350 applications for naturalizations are associated with members of the Anastasiades government
Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou
Serious questions are again raised about the Anastasiades government on ethical and moral order issues
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 14th September 2020, Nicosia
President Anastasiades, three current members of the Anastasiades government and two former Ministers are linked to law and audit firms that have for years been making applications for the naturalization of foreign investors.
According to ‘Haravgi’ newspaper press reports, which so far no one has denied, more than 350 applications for naturalization are linked to members of the Anastasiades government, including the Law Firm bearing the name of the President.
Once again, serious questions are raised about the Anastasiades government in relation to ethical and moral order issues.
- How ethical is it for the President or any Minister to decide in the Ministerial Council on the applications submitted by his law firm?
- A question also arises about the investigation being carried out today on naturalizations. The Attorney General, who appointed the commission of inquiry, was himself a member of the Ministerial Council that approved the decisions. The investigative committee will scrutinise naturalizations that were made by the law firms of the President, current and former Ministers. Will they scrutinise/probe themselves?
All this reveals how profound and extensive is the non-transparency around the “golden passport” business that has shamed our country all over the world. The latest revelations explain why the Anastasiades government stubbornly refused to listen to the international warnings that were being issued, why it was refusing to enact Regulations by the House of Representatives on naturalizations, why it didn’t give replies to citizens and press revelations and, finally, why the government weakened the criteria and procedures.
This is the very root of the scandal with the “golden passports” business.
