“No, Mr. Christodoulides. The spate of appointments has not only not ended, but has actually intensified.”
This is how AKEL responded in a new statement to last night’s remarks by the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, regarding the controversy that erupted over appointments to parastatal organizations.
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READ ALSO: “The party’s over”: President’s harsh response to DISY and AKEL regarding appointments to parastatal organizations
AKEL’s statement in response to the President, verbatim:
If there is any doubt, one need only look at what happened in recent days at the Presidential Palace, when the president of DIKO, Mr. Nikolas Papadopoulos, went there with his party’s lists, demanding greater representation for his party in parastatal organizations.
That is why the President’s statements can only be seen as a mockery of society. No, Mr. Christodoulides. The appointment spree has not only not ended—it has actually intensified.
And, unfortunately, it seems that public opinion does not particularly concern him. From the very first day of his election, Mr. Christodoulides has had his sights set on his re-election. And he has incorporated these appointments into that strategy.
But he made promises to the public as a candidate and is doing exactly the opposite as President.
He promised appointments based on transparency and meritocracy, through the Advisory Council. He promised balanced representation of men and women. He promised to ensure there would be no conflict of interest.
And above all, he made a clear promise: that whenever he rejected a recommendation from the Advisory Council, he would publicly explain his reasons.
He is doing none of these things.
He does not explain his decisions. He does not hold himself accountable to the public. And at the same time, he allows the Advisory Council—which he himself appointed—to be discredited.
Ultimately, the problem isn’t just the appointments. It’s the gap between what Mr. Christodoulides promised as a candidate and what he’s doing as President.
Society does not need more assurances. It needs transparency, meritocracy, and accountability.
And, unfortunately, it sees none of these.
