By Martin Hellicar
ATTORNEY-GENERAL Alecos Markides says outgoing Interior Minister Dinos Michaelides can address the plenum this afternoon if deputies decide to debate his alleged abuse of power.
But Michaelides would only be permitted to defend himself in his capacity as minister, and not as an ordinary citizen – making the exact timing of his resignation crucial.
Yesterday, faced with growing opposition from within the cabinet, Michaelides said he would be submitting his resignation to President Clerides by today.
The plenum session begins at 4pm today.
On the agenda for debate is the House watchdog committee’s report into the minister’s alleged misdemeanours. Committee chairman Christos Pourgourides has for months been trying to “nail” Michaelides for what he claims are a catalogue of abuses of power for personal gain.
State investigators who probed the allegations found no evidence of wrongdoing on Michaelides’ part.
The minister, angered by Pourgourides’ persistent attacks, took the unusual step of asking parliamentary party leaders to let him defend himself before the plenum. Party leaders sought Markides’ advice, and he informed House president Spyros Kyprianou yesterday that a minister could address deputies on issues relevant to his post.
But the minister’s resignation may mean the watchdog committee report may not be debated at the plenum today after all. Members of ruling Disy are rumoured to be pushing for the issue not to be debated, arguing that the minister’s resignation makes the matter obsolete.
The final decision on the matter is expected after parliamentary party leaders have their customary pre-plenum meeting today.
Pourgourides, himself from Disy, is confident the plenum will approve a censure motion against Michaelides after his committee’s report is debated. His campaign had gathered the support of some other members of the governing party.
Michaelides resigned after Government spokesman Christos Stylianides jumped ship in protest at a Council of Ministers decision to clear Michaelides of using his position to secure zoning changes. A report by Ombudsman Eliana Nicolaou had indicated Michaelides may have secured the planning changes in order to build his luxury home outside Limassol.
The United Democrats (UD) also made clear their disaffection for the cabinet decision. Agriculture Minister Costas Themistocleous belongs to the UD.
Michaelides said his resignation did not constitute an admission of guilt but was an effort to “protect” President Clerides.
