In spat with Diko, Anastasiades insists not handing over files on AG’s advice
By Jean Christou
President Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday he was ready to resign if it is found in any investigation into the citizenship by investment scheme that he was involved in any corruption or illegality or had shown any tolerance for that in others, or that he had damaged the state budget in any way.
Anastasiades was responding to a letter sent to him by Diko leader Nicolas Papadopoulos on his party’s rejection of the state budget last week and the reasons why it had taken this action. Papadopoulos had wanted certain files relating to the citizenship by investment scheme handed to the auditor-general, who is running a probe into a particular series of passports granted by the government.
There is also an independent probe investigating the wider passports scheme that was axed in November after a damaging video was released by Al Jazeera showing politicians ready to aid a fictitious Chinese businessman with a criminal record to secure a Cypriot passport.
The government does not want to see a second probe by the audit office, saying it could impact the wider investigation. Papadopoulos charges the government is trying to protect its own interests and hide any implications of its own wrongdoing. He said the government fears what the auditor-general might find.
The attorney-general will decide when the wide probe is finished whether or not to release it as it would depend on the extent there may be criminal prosecutions and publication would allow those implicated time to cover their tracks.
In his letter to Papadopoulos, Anastasiades told the Diko leader the conclusions of the investigative committee would be made public after consultation with the AG “with the temporary exception of cases for which criminal offences arise and with full respect for the provisions of the law on personal data protection.
“I am surprised that a scholar of law, but also of the ruling political institutions… invokes, for the sake of the budget, not his disagreements with the economic philosophy of the government but reasons that are completely foreign to the issue at hand,” the letter said.
“You accuse the government of harassment and arrogance because it arbitrarily refuses to hand over the naturalisation dossiers to the auditor-general, but you ignore or want to ignore the fact that the constitution explicitly provides that the attorney-general is the legal adviser of the state and the government and, therefore, any misrepresentation of his opinions would be nothing more than a verification of what you accuse the government of,” it added.
“You know, or should you know that the refusal to deliver the files is due solely to the opinion of the attorney-general and not, as you unrealistically claim, to the government’s attempt to prevent scrutiny and transparency and cleansing, and because, for your own reasons, the only one you trust is the auditor-general.”
Anastasiades told Papadopoulos that in his obsession with pretexts and allegations in invoking the fight against corruption “you do not care if your actions hurt all citizens who need the urgent support of the state during a critical time for the country as a result of the pandemic “.
“What particularly saddens me is your deliberate questioning of the attorney-general’s constitutional powers…,” he added.
The most unacceptable thing, the president said, was that Papadopoulos was questioning not only the powers of the AG but also his integrity and ethos, and those of the committee of inquiry.
“I have stated it many times in public and I want to make it clear once again that no matter how hard you try, whether you or others, whoever you mobilise to help in the mudslinging, not only will you not hurt me, but you will realise, hopefully soon, that such behaviours, only expose those who use similar methods,” the president said.
“I reiterate that I am ready to assume my responsibilities, resigning from the position that my people have entrusted to me if I am found to be involved in any case of corruption or any illegal act or tolerance for any action that has damaged or damaged the state budget.”
Responding, Diko said how could it be revealed that the president showed tolerance for corruption if “he continues to obstruct controls”.
“How will society know if it has indeed taken on these responsibilities or if he concealed them,” a brief statement said.
