Statement by AKEL Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou on golden passports and unanswered questions to which the government must reply
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 16th October 2020, Nicosia
For a long time up until recently, the government and ruling DISY party were assuring insistently that there is no problem with its passports for investment program. Indeed, Mr. Anastasiades was clashing with the European Commission and European Parliament, which were issuing stern warnings to Cyprus about the ‘golden passports’ scheme.
The government and DISY were slandering anyone who was demanding explanations about the international shaming of Cyprus arising from the mass passport issuance industry set up during their term of office.
Under the pressure exerted by developments themselves, the government proceeded to terminate the Program in a hurry.
However, many questions remain that the government must answer:
– Why did it leave the “window” open for the application of passports until 1st November? Firms are already conducting advertising campaigns with the slogan “Last chance for Cypriot passports” as if it were a sale?
– Why does the Anastasiades government continue to deny the Audit Office access to the information it requests to conclude its investigation? What are the government ruling forces really afraid of?
– What will happen to the 350 passports granted associated with the law firm of President Anastasiades, incumbents and former members of the Anastasiades government?
– Why doesn’t it proceed with the findings of the Kalogirou Commission, which found half of the passports of those it investigated problematic?
– When will the Anastasiades government be held accountable for rendering the procedures and criteria ineffective and powerless, which it had done in 2013 and 2016?
AKEL doesn’t change in any way at all what it has been saying all these years about the scandal with the ‘golden passport’ industry. No matter who is involved, the “bubble” of corruption must be broken. The name of Cyprus must be clarified. The type of economy based on corruption and the “get rich quick” philosophy must be terminated
