In a statement, the Alma movement described the reappointment of Paschalidis as President of AADIPA, through July 1, 2031, as an institutional challenge.

“The decision by the Council of Ministers to renew Mr. Andreas Paschalidis’s term as President of AADIPA for a third consecutive five-year term, until July 1, 2031, constitutes an institutional challenge.”

And he continues:

“Mr. Paschalides is the criminal investigator in the Videogate case, a case involving close associates and relatives of the President of the Republic, with allegations of funding, access to the Presidential Palace, favors granted to investors, and contributions to the now-defunct Social Support Agency, which was managed by the President’s wife.

This therefore raises a major and objective issue of conflict of interest: the Council of Ministers, chaired by the very person for whom the outcome of the investigation has direct political significance, is granting a third five-year term to the criminal investigator handling the case.

From the outset, we had also pointed out that Mr. Paschalidis lacks the external credibility required for such a sensitive assignment. He is the same person who, as evidenced by legally obtained video footage, had a conversation in 2020—unacceptable for an independent investigator—with the then-Chief of Police Kypros Michaelides, regarding an AADIPA investigation into members of the Police Force in connection with the Metaxas case. His submissive tone during the conversation reinforced the impression that he is part of the very same system of power he is called upon to oversee.

“The culture established by the Anastasiadis school continues, with Nikos Christodoulidis as a worthy disciple.”