The predetermined crime against Cooperatives is being completed

Statement by Yiorgos Loucaides, AKEL-Left-New Forces Parliamentary Representative

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 12 June 2018, Nicosia

Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou seems to have lost sense of time. In his efforts to shake off the Anastasiades-DISY Government’s grave responsibilities for the financial crime that has been committed with regards Cooperatives, he has obviously got lost in the dates.

We remind him that as of October 2013, as a result of a bill tabled by the government, the State is the owner of the Cyprus Co-operative Bank.

Since October 2013, the Anastasiades-DISY government has been managing the Cyprus Co-operative Bank and has the responsibility of protecting public property, as well as working people.

It is the Anastasiades-DISY Government that was promising to the Cypriot people that it would supposedly return Co-operatives to citizens.

Not only did the Anastasiades-DISY Government not return them, not only did it not protect citizens, but for several months it has planned their sell-off to the Hellenic Bank, loading the losses on to taxpayer’s backs and giving away profits to private interests.

It would therefore be good if Mr. Prodromou remain cautious in his statements. The Anastasiades – DISY government’s responsibilities are self-evident. The premeditated crime committed against society may as yet be developing in the absence of citizens, but it will not prevent those who knew or ought to have known being held accountable.

As far as any responsibilities other than political is concerned, we believe that the Audit Office and the Attorney General’s office must proceed to conduct a thorough investigation.