Cyprus’s political scene has been shaken to its core following recent revelations about a behind-the-scenes dinner attended by the Speaker of the House and leader of DISY, even if only as a silent presence. The revelation that the country’s second-highest-ranking government official attended a secret meeting with the former president of her party under the “guidance” the guidance and mediation of a well-known media publisher and businessman and a newspaper editor-in-chief, is a brutal blow to our institutions. Not because government and political officials do not have the right to meet with people. No one advocates targeting social interaction. However, the fact that during this meeting, third parties were asked to support the reelection of Anita Dimitriou as Speaker of the House —paradoxically without her speaking herself—highlights an unprecedented dimension of the mounting decline of institutions in Cyprus. Excuses about “friendly meetings” and “exchanges of views” convince no one. Political ethics have been irreparably damaged.
The first and foremost issue that arises is the profoundly extra-institutional nature of this action. In a healthy democracy, political agreements, consultations on government posts, and party balances are discussed within established institutions. They are not decided in fish taverns, nor are they arranged behind closed doors through the mediation of representatives of the journalistic establishment. The image of the Speaker of the House appearing as a “protégée” at a table where a media mogul is negotiating her political future is a severe blow to the prestige of the House of Representatives. Institutions do not need “guardians” or “intermediaries” to be staffed and function.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
This case takes on even darker dimensions when one considers the stance of this particular newspaper. It is widely acknowledged that this newspaper “praises” Anita Dimitriou day and night, presenting an idealized image of her, devoid of any objective criticism. So when it is revealed that the owner and editor-in-chief of this media outlet were acting as unofficial political “brokers” to secure the Speaker of the House’s position, the apparent collusion is glaringly obvious. It raises a reasonable suspicion of a quid pro quo relationship behind such blatant political support, media immunity, and promotion in the media. This intertwining of political power with economic and media interests poisons public life, undermines the independence of institutions, and fuels public distrust of everyone. In short, it threatens the country’s institutional framework and the functioning of democracy within it.
This is the dire consequence of the dangerous blurring of the roles of institutions—politics and journalism. Journalism must serve as a watchdog over those in power, not as a regulator or a subservient agent. When these lines become blurred, the independence of institutions crumbles. Anita Dimitriou, as the second-highest-ranking official in the Republic of Cyprus, had a duty to be the guardian of transparency and the independence of the legislative branch. Instead, she allowed herself to become subject to extra-institutional manipulation. How can we trust the House of Representatives anymore, when its leadership appears to be dependent on the whims and interventions of media moguls?
To salvage what remains of the institutions’ credibility, there is only one path. The Speaker of the House can no longer hide behind misleading denials of facts that are disproved shortly thereafter or behind her awkward silence. She must take political responsibility for her actions and submit her resignation immediately. Any other choice will simply prolong the institutional decay and confirm that in Cyprus, the seats of power—the result of collusion with the system — are more important than the dignity of the institutions and democracy itself.
