Opinion
By Andreas C. Chrysafis*
September 18, 2024 will be marked as another Black Day for Democracy and the start of a slippery road to a new phase in the political life of Cyprus. There are disturbing signs and a string of developments that warrant such observations.
''The current changes of the Audit Authority did not happen by coincidence but were well planned over four years ago by the former president who often insinuated on removing the AG.''
The charade for the dismissal of the Auditor General is just one of them but also the arrest of two Cypriots—a Greek and a Turkish Cypriot—for unfurling a banner on October 1st Celebrations at Cyprus’s Independence Day Parade displaying the sign: “Republic Of Cyprus—The Only Solution”. The valued freedom of expression enshrined in a democracy was considered inappropriate and the police apprehended the two culprits to face their day in the court.
But the political scandal that tops the scale is the premeditated removal of Odysseas Michaelides—the independent Auditor General of Cyprus. His dismissal has shocked the nation and it’s just another one of those developments that are sending a clear message of things to come; the constraint of freedom of speech in an EU member state.
With Odysseas out of the way, absolute power now rests in the hands of two individuals: the elected President and the appointed-for-life Attorney General— also the president’s legal advisor! While the first introduces policies the latter is expected to rubberstamp them in a perfect harmonious relationship!
The dismissal of Mr. Odysseas Michaelides was primarily aimed to stop him from further investigating high-profile cases of wrongdoing but also to prevent him from speaking out in public. The president’s inferred excuse that: “no 1960’s archaic power should remain in the hands of one individual” is simply nonsense.
If that’s the case, the same principle can also be applied to the Attorney General and the Cyprus President himself who’s empowered with more powers than the President of the United States.
The Court Case
The announcement of the Court’s decision to sack Mr. Michaelides triggered a mass rally outside the presidential palace on September 22nd and people took to the streets in support of the Auditor. They protested at the High Court’s ruling by demanding an end to institutional corruption and calling for the respect of the Rule of Law in a Democracy.
With the Auditor out of the way, it offers the government the freedom to restructure the Audit Authority. Without further ado, it was immediately announced that the new Audit Offices would be administered by: one Auditor General appointed by the President; a Deputy Auditor; and a new Audit Committee made up of six or seven other appointed junior auditors.
The new Audit Authority will in fact be placed under government scrutiny and be forbidden from exposing its findings publicly or to the media as before. At the same time, the newly appointed Auditor General is expected not to disagree or defy—like Odysseas did—the Attorney General’s decisions on specific cases.
The current changes of the Audit Authority did not happen by coincidence but were well planned over four years ago by the former president who often insinuated on removing the AG. President Chrystodoulides has, in fact, also made it an election promise to restructure the independent authority of the Audit Office and replace it with “an appointed committee.”
But since Mr. Odysseas Michaelides was constitutionally protected as an independent authority—guaranteed by the Constitution—no President could dismiss his services at will. Ways and means had to be found to remove him from office and transform the Audit Authority; an institution that wholeheartedly gained the public’s trust!
Unable to produce evidence of wrongdoing, it was decided to bring Odysseas Michaelides to face the Highest Court of the land. The Attorney General filed an application in April 2024 seeking the termination of Michaelides’ services for “inappropriate conduct”. The charges were groundless but the plot was set in stone and unless the president himself intervened—which he didn’t—or the charges were withdrawn, the case was heading for a clash inside the opulent Law chambers of Nicosia as planned.
The Court’s deliberations by a panel of eight High Court Judges—appointed by the former President Mr. Anastasiades—sealed the fate of Odysseas Michaelides! Innocence had once again become the victim of political convenience!
The price for Injustice
The Judgement called for Odysseas' immediate dismissal, but the Court also humiliated a dignified official by naming him: “the worst Auditor General Cyprus ever had!” Such a statement goes beyond the realms of appointed High Court Judges and shocking as it sounds, Mr. Michaelides was also deprived of the Right to Appeal! Fait accompli!
On the announcement of the Judgement, an elite sector in society jubilantly danced on the Auditor’s grave feeling safer from further investigations by the Audit Office. The conspiracy plan to get rid of the thorn in their midst worked extremely well!
However, citizens were not naïve and quickly recognized the political trap set against one of the most trusted authorities in the country. Feeling betrayed, hundreds of them gathered outside the presidential palace calling for an end to institutional corruption and the reinstatement of Odysseas Michaelides as their trusted Auditor General.
Ironically, Mr. Michaelides was not accused of failing his duties or of incompetence but of “failing to respect state authority”. This was done under the crafty wording of “inappropriate conduct”. His only “crime” was to advocate transparency and to expose wrongdoings, corrupt practices and the squandering of taxpayer’s money or pilfering public funds. In fact, he refused to be silenced like his predecessors, who often shielded a corrupt system by turning a blind eye. Those valued principles of free expression cost Mr. Michaelides his job.
But, the main reason Odysseas Michaelides was dismissed was politically motivated and carried the stench of dark motives. For some, his Audit Office was encroaching on forbidden grounds inside the chambers of power and he had to be stopped before exposing further gilded linings of dirty laundry in dirty hidden places.
As it happens, his sacking is not the end of the matter, but the beginning! In support of Mr. Odysseas Michaelides, Cypriot MEPs in Brussels have taken the case to the European Court of Justice for deliberation.
Meanwhile, for one more time Corruption in Cyprus had become the Judge and the Executioner of Transparency and Truth, in an Elected Autocracy.
*Andreas C. Chrysafis was born to Greek parents in Cyprus and holds Cypriot, British and Canadian citizenship. He has lived most of his life in the UK, Canada and Cyprus. He is a published author of five books and a recognized artist while his thought-provoking articles (over 450) continue to be read globally. He is not politically affiliated but is a strong advocate of the Rule of Law, Democracy, Transparency, Equality and Human Rights but also a robust opponent of Corruption. www.artpal.com/chrysafis
