A response to those who criticize and comment on the “Declaration of Assets” published by the House of Representatives, which lists as assets a car worth €7,000 and deposits of just €10.32 in a savings account, is issued by the young AKEL MP Ephraim Christou.
In a statement titled “A Poor but Honest Member of Parliament, aged 24,” he clarifies that the declaration was submitted after the end of the election campaign, during which he had stopped working in the private sector, and that at just 24 years old, he has not accumulated any assets.
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Read the statement:
In recent days, my financial situation has become a topic of discussion following the publication of my “declaration of assets.” Specifically, it was reported that I own a car worth €7,000 and have only €10.32 in a savings account.
I would therefore like to clarify a few things.
First, this declaration pertains to my financial status as of June 4, 2026, the day I assumed my duties as a member of parliament. The figures that were published do not represent the final version of the declaration. My total assets on that date amounted to approximately €7,000 for my car and approximately €50 in total in bank accounts.
Yes, that was my financial situation. I was not working at that time, as I had taken a leave of absence from the private organization where I worked to participate in an intensive pre-election campaign, and at the same time I had to fulfill the requirements of my master’s degree.
So I don’t have thousands of euros in the bank. I do not come from a wealthy family. And at 24, it is perfectly normal that I have not accumulated wealth that is not justified by my career path and capabilities.
And I don’t think there’s anything I need to apologize for.
On the contrary, what should be highlighted is that a young person from the middle class can participate on an equal footing in the country’s political life without having family wealth, financial connections, or vast sums of money for his campaign.
This has been my own experience through AKEL, which gave me the opportunity to participate and run for office, regardless of my financial situation, age, or social background.
I did not have to spend tens or hundreds of thousands of euros to win the votes of my fellow citizens. My election was not based on financial resources, but on my political presence, my work, and my connection to society.
And today, from within the Parliament, my goal is to represent the people who know what it means to work, to study, to strive to stand on one’s own two feet, and to worry about the future.
Because this is the reality for many young people my age. Young people who are finishing their studies, trying to gain professional experience, and struggling to build a life of their own—without an inheritance or financial support that guarantees them everything.
Being 24 years old and not having thousands of euros in the bank is not a failure. It’s a reality we need to understand, rather than treat with sarcasm. Politics isn’t just about fireplaces and fur coats.
I also want to be clear about my integrity. Anyone who questions the accuracy of my financial disclosure or has specific information that raises reasonable questions has every right to raise them publicly, by name, and with supporting evidence. My financial records are subject to the relevant audits by the competent authorities, and I have no objection to any audit that is lawful and provided for by law.However, there is a difference between substantiated criticism and the arbitrary questioning of a person’s integrity for the sake of political expediency.
And to be clear, I will not stand idly by in the face of baseless accusations that damage my personal and political reputation. I reserve the right to exercise all my legal rights, should this become necessary.
Efraim Christou
AKEL Member of Parliament for Limassol
