ViewPoint: PR Resignations Won’t Hide Christodoulides’ Crisis

Cyprus faces international scrutiny amid political scandal

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Ms. Karsera's resignation from the presidency of the relevant fund is a highly symbolic, PR-driven move that does little to address the enormous problem currently facing the Christodoulides government and Cyprus, which is facing international embarrassment.

The lack of transparency regarding the fund’s financial flows had been raised months ago, yet the Presidential Office refused to allow any oversight.

The video in question does not concern Karsera, but rather the President himself and his inner circle. It depicts a money flow network coordinated by the President’s Chief of Staff, which utilised intermediaries such as Lakkotrypis to collect contributions tied to the President’s potential 2028 re-election campaign.

The video also reveals the practices followed by President Christodoulides during his 2023 campaign. It shows how he allegedly exceeded the legal expenditure limit of one million euros allowed per candidate, through cash payments - effectively “black money” - to cover campaign expenses and activities.

The most troubling element of the video, however, is the favours offered by the President, as explained by his Chief of Staff and close associate, Charalambos Charalambous. If any issues, delays, or complications arose during an investment, the President would personally intervene, instructing that the matter be advanced. With the President’s intervention, projects were guaranteed to proceed, providing reassurance to all involved.

Unfortunately, this does nothing to help the country. For a second time, Cyprus has been exposed on video as a place where “lessons in corruption” are effectively being given. While the resignation of Charalambous yesterday was inevitable, it does not alter the overarching conclusion: the problem is systemic and concerns the country as a whole.

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