Nicos Anastasiades and corruption – By Andros Kyprianou – former General Secretary of the Central Committee of AKEL

 

 

12 March 2023 ‘HARAVGI’ newspaper

It is a fact that corruption has always existed in the Republic of Cyprus, as in every country. However what happened under the Anastasiades government, and which he pretends not to understand, is unprecedented for a European country. There are three elements that substantiate this.

1. For the first time, the Cypriot people as a whole (94%) believe that there is corruption in the country, according to Eurostat figures.
2. For the first time, our country was disgraced all over the world. International and European organizations (World Bank, European Council, European Parliament, European political parties, international news agencies, etc.) made references to the corruption that exists in Cyprus, with an emphasis on the President’s involvement in it.
3. For the first time there is clear institutional involvement in corruption.

I could list heaps of examples to illustrate the point. Such as the Nicolatos inquiry finding on the golden passports scandal which reveal that about half of them were issued irregularly or illegally, even paying reduced VAT. Or the Arestis inquiry finding on the Cyprus Co-operative Bank scandal, which assigns enormous responsibilities on the government for the Bank’s closure due to corruption. The sale of Cyprus Airways. Anastasiades’ meeting with representatives of Ryan Air, accompanied by his law firm, with a view to the takeover of Cyprus Airways. The President’s appointment of an Assistant Attorney General who ended up in prison. People are still wondering why Nicos Anastasiades felt the need to go to court to defend him. And much, much more.

But I’ll dwell on three issues that don’t need legal documentation to prove them, because public admissions were made.

In what other European country does the President’s family business submit requests to the Council of Ministers, get approved and reap financial benefits, but the President does not resign?

In what other European country does the President travel for free on a Saudi tycoon’s plane at least twice, issue him a few dozen passports that are the property of the Republic of Cyprus and not his own, and does not resign?

In what other European country does the President’s close family circle take tens of millions out of the country – in the 2013 period when banks were closed – at the same time as the rest of the people’s bank deposits were being haircut and he does not resign?

We don’t need to wait for history to judge Mr. Anastasiades and those who cover for him. Unfortunately, the facts are glaring, thewre4 for all to see and shameful.