The President’s Office is seeking to resolve the issue of appointing independent criminal investigators to investigate the “Mafia State”—an issue that is already causing repercussions—by the end of the week.

“We knew full well it wouldn’t be easy. There is, of course, the obvious aspect regarding the absence of a conflict of interest or a special relationship, which, upon evaluation of certain individuals who had been considered, appears to exist.” ^{Konstantinos Letympiotis, Government Spokesperson}

Nikos Christodoulides and members of the Cabinet have embarked on a race to find suitable candidates from the shortlist that has been drawn up. Some have already declined, while others have asked for time to decide.

“The goal is not simply to find someone from abroad. We have many highly qualified, distinguished legal experts who have proven themselves in the past in similar cases.” ^{Konstantinos Letympiotis, Government Spokesperson}

Many distinguished legal experts who could handle the burden of the investigation recognize that their potential appointment would raise issues of conflict of interest or bias.

“The inability to identify individuals who meet the criteria of objectivity and integrity contradicts the justification they have provided and highlights the difficulty they face, which is why they are turning to candidates from abroad.” ^{George Christofides, Lawyer}

The decision by the leadership of the Legal Service to assign responsibility for the investigation to the Council of Prosecutors—which, in turn, passed the buck to the Cabinet—has short-circuited the process.

“The case is doomed to failure from the outset. Only the Attorney General can appoint a private public prosecutor.” ^{Yiannis Ioannou, Criminal Defense Attorney}

The atmosphere against the prosecutors is heavy. Following AKEL, ALMA, Volt, the Greens, and Direct Democracy, calls for their resignation are mounting.

Fierce Criticism of Anastasiades

The “Mafia State” is plunging Pindarou into introversion, despite the message of unity that the DISY leadership sought to convey during today’s Executive Bureau meeting and Anita Dimitriou’s call to avoid public statements.

Christos Pourgourides is calling on DISY to remove the former President of the Republic from the party’s leadership.

“I am not taking into account the fact that investigations into criminal offenses are pending when I demand that the party remove him from its collective bodies. What I am saying the party must do concerns matters that are not in dispute and are not under investigation, such as, for example, accepting a plane from someone connected to the government; that is a clear-cut act of misconduct.” ^{Christos Pourgourides, Member of the DISY Political Bureau}

At the same time, Chris Triantafyllides launched an attack against Efthymios Diplaros, following the full support that the DISY deputy president had provided to Nicos Anastasiades.

“I distance myself from this position if it is the official position of DISY, and regarding the latter, it is time, Madam President of DISY, for the party to clarify its position.” ^{Chris Triantafyllides, Chairman of the DISY Legal Council}

Watch the report by Christoforos Nestoros