*By Andreas Morfítis
It is widely acknowledged that the decay and unhealthy condition of public life in our country has been, since the founding of the Republic of Cyprus, the major problem leading to the erosion of institutions, the devaluation of politics and politicians, the undermining of the value system and the loss of billions of euros from public funds. This, in turn, weakens economic and social policies intended to benefit the most vulnerable groups of society and those in need.
The climate of tolerance, complicity and impunity, cultivated or accepted by successive governments, has not managed to curb the recurring political, social and economic scandals. On the contrary, it has created precedents for others to imitate similar behaviour. When every fraudster, corrupt actor in public life and embezzler of public funds remains untouched or escapes with minimal consequences, how can the cycle of scandals ever stop?
In this note I do not intend to condemn in advance the former president of the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), Giorgos Koumas, as the relevant investigations have only just begun.
However, I would like to highlight two characteristic aspects of this case, which has caused a major reaction in the media and public debate.
The first is that the activities, lifestyle and conduct of Mr Koumas had been discussed for years in cafés, living rooms, ministries and football stadiums. Yet the matter remained at the level of gossip. The same discussions had taken place regarding Mr Koumas’s predecessor, without any consequences ever emerging.
The second characteristic, perhaps the most important, is the decision of the judiciary to freeze assets belonging to Mr Koumas worth €3.4 million. These funds would be transferred to the state if the case ultimately leads to a conviction.
This development invites comparison with other scandals involving fraud, embezzlement and misuse of public funds, where those responsible were sentenced to negligible penalties without any financial consequences. The large sums they had misappropriated remained safely in their bank accounts, still under their control.
The case of Giorgos Koumas should mark the beginning of a new era of relentless and multi-layered efforts to confront the protagonists, accomplices and bystanders of the tragedy and theatre of the absurd that has unfolded over the decades of the so-called free life of our country. All this took place with the public acting as a passive spectator, sometimes tolerating and at other times applauding dubious individuals and those complicit in the erosion of our social, economic and political fabric.
The government of Nikos Christodoulides has declared zero tolerance for illegality, corruption, collusion and the misappropriation of public resources at the expense of ordinary citizens, many of whom struggle from morning until night simply to earn their livelihood and survive amid difficult circumstances.
Now is the time to launch a campaign for the exemplary punishment of those responsible and their accomplices, whether protagonists or supporting actors.
The government, state institutions and both the legislative and judicial branches must regroup and work together in a common effort to remove the deep-rooted problems and the metastases of every form of corruption.
Preventive audits should be conducted across all public bodies, authorities and organisations governed by public law, and the results should be made public.
The hand of law and order must extend across the entire country in order to halt the downward spiral that has led us into uncharted waters, into a swamp of corruption.
Only tangible results will allow this people to breathe again, to regain confidence, dignity and their lost hopes for the future.
All margins of tolerance have been exhausted.
Postscript: The proposal to establish a special committee tasked with recording and classifying all scandals and irregularities over time, and with publicly informing citizens about the progress of investigations, would strengthen the public sense of justice and restore the credibility of the competent authorities.
*Vice President of the Board of the Cyprus Centre for Studies (CYKEM)