Beyond close associates from his campaign team and personal network, President Nikos Christodoulides has appointed a substantial portion of his 2023 backers or their relatives to government posts. By Politis’ count, 26% of the “100” public supporters who endorsed his candidacy, or members of their families, now hold roles in the Council of Ministers, advisory bodies, semi-state boards and other public councils, or serve as ministerial advisers.
From the list of 100 supporters
Below is an alphabetical roster (by surname) of appointees drawn from those who signed the Christodoulides candidacy in 2023.
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Amalia Avraam, lawyer, appointed in April 2025 as co-chair of the newly created Technical Committee on Youth.
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Chrystalla Avraamides, vice-president of Famagusta Nautical Club, appointed in January 2025 to the executive board of the Cyprus Olympic Committee.
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Despo Amerikanou, lawyer, has served since March 2023 as chair of the Licensing Authority.
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George Arestis, former Supreme Court judge, appointed in August 2024 as unpaid special adviser to the president and the Council of Ministers on ethics.
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Alexis Vafeadis, architect, appointed minister of transport in the president’s first cabinet.
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George Georgiou, University of Cyprus professor, serves as chair of the Education Ministry’s Events Committee.
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Andreas Prokopiou, appointed to Cyta’s board; a close associate of the Papaellinas family, members of which backed the president’s election.
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Christina Iacovidou, businesswoman, serves as vice-chair of the Cyprus Ports Authority.
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Yiannis Ioannou, businessman and former deputy mayor of Engomi, serves as chair of the Cyprus Sports Organisation.
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Myrofora Iona, philologist, serves as adviser and associate to the defence minister.
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Andreas Kasoulides, educator, handles education matters in the Secretariat for Coordination and Support of Government Work.
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Makis Keravnos, serves as minister of finance.
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Doxa Komodromou, journalist, briefly served as deputy government spokesperson before resigning amid controversy over overtime claims.
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Rona Chadjiipapa-Lemonari, journalist, serves as adviser and associate to the energy minister.
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Maria Miltiadous, deputy CEO at the Youth Organisation, appointed in March 2025 as a member of the State Scholarships Foundation.
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Nikolaos Economides, businessman, appointed to the University of Cyprus Council.
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Klea Chatzistefanou-Papaellina, academic, has chaired the “Voice” Council since April 2024.
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Andreas Papallis, son of lawyer Antonis Papallis who supported Christodoulides’ 2023 bid, serves on the Cyprus Sports Organisation board.
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Christodoulos Patsalides, economist, appointed in April 2024 as governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus.
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Anna Zafeiri-Polychronidou, formerly in marketing, serves as adviser to the interior minister.
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Michailina Raspa, architect, serves on the University of Cyprus Council.
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Christina Sarri, lawyer, appointed in January 2024 as vice-chair of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK).
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Styliani Solomou, postgraduate student, serves as adviser and associate to the interior minister.
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Marios Charalambides, former executive director of Europa Donna Cyprus, recently appointed as Patients’ Advocate.
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Michalis Hadjiiyiannis, musician, appointed as deputy minister of culture and resigned three months later.
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Christos Hadjiimanolis, former chair of the Cyprus Ports Authority, is the father of deputy minister for shipping Marina Hadjiimanoli.
Politis does not question the qualifications or abilities of the individuals listed. The paper presents these appointments as documented facts. In several other cases, names on the “100” appear to match appointees’ relatives, but we could not conclusively verify family links.
Friends and relatives
From the outset, the president faced criticism over perceived favouritism, campaign IOUs and nepotism. Media and public debate have focused on ties between the presidential couple and several appointees at the Presidential Palace drawn from family circles, close friends and best men. These include:
• Eirini Piki, deputy minister to the president and friend of the presidential couple.
• Marilena Raouna, director of the President’s Diplomatic Office and bridesmaid at their wedding.
• Pitsa Xiouri, reassigned to the Protocol Department at the Presidential Palace, the president’s first koumera.
• Demetris Yerolemou, appointed to the Presidential Guard, the president’s first koumbaros and husband of Pitsa Xiouri.
• Charalambos Charalambous, husband of Kristia Karsera (the first lady’s sister), appointed director of the President’s Office.
• Despina Pouri, now at the Protocol Department, daughter of Anna Karsera (the first lady’s sister) and Aristos Pouris.
• Christodoulos Charalambous, appointed associate to Deputy Minister Piki and cousin of Filippa Karsera.
Advisory council and semi-state boards
Another wave of criticism arrived in January 2024 with appointments to semi-state organisations. Opponents questioned the heavily publicised “transparent” selection process in which candidates expressed interest and the Advisory Council submitted recommendations to the cabinet. Detractors argued the advisory body served as cover for political placements and repayment of campaign favours. They also noted a gap between the president’s branding as modern and non-partisan and the outcomes of his appointments.
The four new director generals
More controversy followed the appointment of four new ministry director generals:
• Anna Aristotelous, former prisons director and presidential commissioner for humanitarian issues concerning missing persons and enclaved,
• George Papageorgiou, director of the Nicosia Municipal Theatre and husband of Deputy Minister Eirini Piki,
• Kyriakos Iordanou, director general of ICPAC,
• Penelope Papavasiliou, cabinet secretary and deputy director-general at the Finance Ministry’s Directorate-General for Growth, a close friend of the first lady.
Critics said the selections again undermined campaign promises of a new ethos and meritocracy.
What this means
The pattern of placements across ministries, advisory bodies and semi-state boards has intensified debate over standards in public appointments. The administration maintains that appointees meet role requirements. The political test now is whether future selections reinforce transparent, competitive procedures that can withstand public scrutiny.