Olive Pits
Videogate, Trump’s Letter and Creative Editing
The team around President Nikos Christodoulides is shouting and roaring, insisting that the video starring the in-law Charalambos was edited. Our impression, however, is that while they accuse others of manipulation, the most impressive editing job was carried out by the Presidency itself with the Trump letter.
From what we understand, the letter in which Donald Trump invited the Cypriot President to participate in the Gaza Council was a page and a half long, accompanied by explanatory texts. What was released publicly, via Ignatiou, were just three lines. Just enough to suggest that the President was invited because he ranks among the most important leaders on the planet.
From this alone, one can understand how Videogate came about. The man was invited as a regional leader to meet the Planet’s Leader, so naturally some people attempted to undermine him by constructing a video. The attempt was, of course, entirely unsuccessful in damaging a figure of Nikos Christodoulides’ international standing. The polls reflect this clearly.
DISY, Sykas and the Problem That Won’t Go Away
We genuinely do not understand why, following the removal of Sykas from the DISY parliamentary ballot, the party must automatically select the next person in line, namely Michailidis. DISY’s statutes say nothing of the sort.
Moreover, for those who know the background, while the party removed Sykas, it risks burdening itself with an even larger problem. One that some will be keen to revive, because as they say, DISY must fall below 20 percent. Not to mention that nobody knows what the court, where Sykas has sought recourse, will ultimately decide.
Faidias, the European Prosecutor and a Clear Conflict
The Anti-Corruption Authority has referred the Faidias case to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, citing lack of jurisdiction to investigate a sitting MEP. Complaints were submitted two months ago, an inquiry was conducted, an issue was identified, and the file was forwarded to the competent EU authority.
According to a legal source, several additional issues arise beyond the fact that he rents a luxury villa in Limassol using European funds. The same source notes that an online application operated by the sitting MEP is presented as a tool of “European participation” but is in practice used for registration, voting or selection of representatives of a national political party in Cyprus.
This is not a grey area. It is a clear institutional and legal issue. An MEP cannot simultaneously be the owner, administrator or auditor of a voting data collection platform and act as Data Protection Officer. This constitutes a clear conflict of interest under GDPR.
Furthermore, the resources, structures and prestige of the European Parliament are strictly intended for the exercise of European parliamentary duties and may not be used for national electoral or party processes. All of the above, according to our information, run contrary to the established positions of OLAF.
As for GDPR, it is unequivocal. Faidias cannot present himself as Data Protection Officer in a private or party application. That is misleading. Articles 12 to 14 require full transparency and proper identification of the data controller. Nor can a European institution be declared when the processing is private or partisan.
Influencers, Arrest Warrants and Designer Bags
Thirteen arrest warrants, it is said, have been issued against Ioanna Fotiou, also known as Annie Alexoui, over Instagram posts. The influencer, who says a lot and occasionally circulates harsh claims, has recently targeted the First Lady, Philippa Karsera, making insinuations about the operations of her family business. We believe these are nonsense.
At the same time, she claims that when Mrs Karsera travels abroad and attends diaspora events, she requests and receives expensive gifts, such as Chanel bags allegedly costing €15,000 each.
Even if the bag stories are nonsense as well, given Videogate and the circulation of photos showing the First Lady with luxury handbags, we believe these allegations should be addressed with absolute transparency.
For example, she could call a press conference of all lifestyle journalists, present the bags, and pose for photographs at the Presidential Palace. She could then present receipts showing she purchased them herself. These are the correct steps our First Lady should take.
Free AI Tools Are Never Really Free
Has anyone stopped to think why major organisations such as Google or ChatGPT offer governments free artificial intelligence tools for schools?
We heard the former Director of the President’s Office, Charalambos Charalambous, speak of a €500,000 donation from Chat, but we have the impression we are not being told the whole story. Not even half of it.
Every time such a corporate giant makes a donation, a condition follows that may end up costing the state millions annually. We are talking about agreements for hosting government data on corporate servers, arrangements that cost far more than any donation. In short, who will explain what lies behind these deals?
Holguín’s Visit and the Test of Confidence-Building Measures
Ms Holguín is arriving, and on Tuesday 27 January she will hold separate meetings with the two leaders, followed by a joint meeting on 28 January.
This is an opportunity to clarify whether confidence-building measures will move forward. Specifically, whether President Christodoulides accepts Erhürman’s proposal for opening four new crossing points, and whether he is ready to implement unilateral measures on economy and health for Turkish Cypriots, as he stated before Turkish Cypriot journalists in Brussels.
Ms Holguín will remain in Cyprus for several days and will also meet with mixed Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot groups, both locally and abroad, following the model of her youth meeting in Amman, to hear views and form a picture of civil society thinking.
Fourlas, Costa and a Familiar Question
After months of silence, Loukas Fourlas heard António Costa speak about Greenland in the European Parliament and immediately reacted. Fixing him with a steely gaze, he asked: “Why did you not mention Cyprus?”
Next appointment in four months.
The Limassol House That Became a Scandal
Enough already. You nearly devoured the kid over the house he rented in Limassol. Yes, it is a maisonette. Not even semi detached. A decent house, but certainly not a villa.
The issue, if there is one, is whether an MEP is entitled to rent a home in Cyprus. If he is not, and still declares this house, with its layout and location, as an office, then problems may arise.
So, Faidias, clarify the situation. Above all, clarify the complaints currently under examination by a member of your own team. A thick stack of documents has been submitted. If they hold water, the bells may start ringing.
Legal Service, Independent Investigators and Waiting Reports
Some seize every opportunity to attack the Legal Service for lacking decisiveness in investigating cases that smell of scandal. Someone should remind them that fewer than three days after the video surfaced, Giorgos Savvidis appointed an independent criminal investigator, Andreas Paschalidis.
Yes, there are decisions still pending, including Koumas and Sizopoulos, and we await them. But let us note this. The Anti-Corruption Authority has now completed two years since launching its “Mafia State” investigation. Where is its report?
We are told it is approaching publication. When we asked when, the answer was clear. Soon, and certainly not on a date that could be interpreted as an attempt to influence the outcome of the parliamentary elections.