Former President Nicos Anastasiades’ objections to the process and findings of the Independent Authority Against Corruption have prompted a strong response from AKEL.
In a statement, the party questioned whether Anastasiades could “give lessons in institutional order”, while revisiting allegations linked to his time in office.
Dispute over authority’s findings
AKEL acknowledged that the former president has the right to defend himself and raise objections. It argued, however, that his position does not, in the party’s view, alter the substance of the investigation’s findings.
The party referred to the authority’s multi-year investigation, saying it had identified “sufficient indications” of several possible criminal offences. According to AKEL, these concern Anastasiades, his law firm and other individuals.
Focus on ‘golden passports’
The statement placed particular emphasis on the Cyprus Investment Programme and the issue of conflicts of interest.
AKEL said that, regardless of the eventual outcome of the criminal investigation, questions remain over the administration of the citizenship scheme, together with wider allegations of corruption and collusion during the Anastasiades-DISY administration.
It also rejected the former president’s claims of omissions or procedural problems in the work of the Independent Authority Against Corruption.
AKEL concluded that the political and institutional assessment of that period has already taken shape within Cypriot society, irrespective of the objections Anastasiades is now raising.
