By Rigas
The conviction of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, sentenced to prison for conspiring to commit corruption, is a stark reminder of what genuine accountability looks like in a rule-of-law state with functioning institutions.
It takes only a few examples to show that even a flawed political system, while not always consistent in ensuring accountability, can possess the self-correcting mechanisms needed to prosecute and punish individuals who break the law, regardless of their power or position.
Of course, no system of accountability operates perfectly. Political expediencies and pressures often blunt or delay reactions. Yet it is clear that, over time, institutional and political culture does not tolerate impunity.
In Cyprus, we cannot avoid the comparison. Can our institutions muster the strength to hold even the highest political authorities to account, to assign responsibility and impose real punishment? Sadly, such a scenario still feels almost unimaginable.
Impunity is not a new phenomenon in the Republic of Cyprus. It is a long-standing feature, embedded in the DNA of our political and administrative system. From banking scandals and passports to politically staged “services,” the common thread is that those responsible rarely face justice. And when they do, the consequences are often mild, delayed, or selective.
We cannot say there have been no convictions. Some movement in that direction has existed. But these remain isolated exceptions rather than proof of an institutional shift toward transparency and accountability. The prevailing perception in society is that the system protects the powerful, turns a blind eye to scandals, and waits for them to blow over in the media and on social networks.
It is undeniably true that justice in Cyprus moves at a slow pace, while independent institutions are often subject to political interference. Rather than defending these institutions proactively and preventively, the guardians of the system tend to focus on defusing public outrage sparked by scandals involving highly protected individuals.
