Paphos Mayor Faidonas Faidonos issued sharp criticism of the government and personally of the President of the Republic following the video that emerged on Wednesday evening and sparked intense political reactions.
In video statements released on Thursday, Faidonos spoke of the “humiliation of the country” and a loss of international credibility, particularly at a time when Cyprus has assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. He argued that the damage does not stem from foreign actors or so-called “hybrid warfare”, but from “people inside and around the Presidential Palace” and from domestic networks operating within the country.
Allegations of corruption
The Paphos mayor alleged practices involving bribery, claiming that businesspeople are pressured to provide cash payments in order to secure licences, accelerate projects or gain access to specific developments, including in the energy sector. He also referred to cases in which, according to his claims, individuals presenting themselves as entrepreneurs provide money in exchange for tolerance of illegal activities, such as money laundering.
“This country cannot be governed by oligarchs, Cypriot or foreign,” Faidonos said, adding that responsibility for such phenomena carries a clear political signature. “For all this humiliation, there is a name and a surname, and that responsibility lies with the government and the President of the Republic himself,” he said.
Call to close the Social Support Fund
Faidonos made particular reference to the Social Support Fund operating at the Presidential Palace, calling for its closure. He said this should be preceded by full disclosure of the names of donors, the amounts contributed and the timing of those contributions.
He also raised questions about a possible link between large donations and applications for licences or other forms of state favour.
Concluding his remarks, the Paphos mayor called for a “new beginning” and a full investigation into all those involved, both in the controversial video and in other cases that have emerged in recent years. He stressed the need for transparency and sound governance at all levels of the state.
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