Statement by Aristos Damianou, Member of the Political Bureau of AKEL and Member of Parliament

 

AKEL replies to DISY

27 June 2026, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

During the Anastasiades-DISY era, institutional entanglement and corruption ran rampant, centred on the Presidential Palace and the “golden passport” industry.

Now, the Anti-Corruption Authority’s Findings personally implicate the Honorary President of DISY himself—during the period when he served as a Member of Parliament and President of DISY—in serious incidents that may constitute criminal offenses.

In any case, Mr. Anastasiades’ political and institutional responsibilities were and remain—now more than ever—undisputed and inescapable, regardless of the course and outcome of the criminal investigations.

For that reason, DISY’s desperate attempt to shift the discussion is understandable. We realise their predicament, given that instead of apologizing to citizens and distancing themselves from Mr. Anastasiades, they are fanatically defending him and exposing themselves.

Moreover, even when we raised our concerns at the critical juncture, DISY never felt the need to engage in any criticism or even to distance itself. They were telling us that we were supposedly undermining entrepreneurship.

Unfortunately, the DISY leadership continues on the same path even after the Anti-Corruption’s Report has been released, speaking vaguely about an investigation while avoiding taking a position on the substance of the Report. Without restraint, they are shamelessly adding insult to injury.

We will not follow their lead, neither in tone nor in ethics.

Nor do we need to comment on which party in this country has a tainted history. Society is watching you. And our people have a long memory.

In essence, AKEL demands a full and impartial investigation, for which the responsibility now lies with Mr. Christodoulides himself and his government.