President Christodoulides urges stronger oversight with new Auditor General

Andreas Papaconstantinou was officially appointed as Cyprus' new Auditor General on Wednesday, following a ceremony at the Presidential Palace with President Nikos Christodoulides.

In his remarks after the ceremony, Papaconstantinou expressed gratitude to the president for his trust, noting that they discussed the need for modernizing and strengthening the independence of the Audit Office. He emphasized the high expectations from society and the importance of ensuring the office meets those demands. He also stressed the necessity of cooperation between the auditor and the entities being audited, and the importance of access to relevant data.

Papaconstantinou acknowledged the government's plans for reforms in the Audit Office, stating he would consult with his directors before presenting his views to the president. He is scheduled to meet with the Minister of Justice later this week.

The new Auditor General also met with his predecessor, Odysseas Michaelides, who offered advice and expressed support for Papaconstantinou in his new role. Papaconstantinou did not disclose details of their conversation.

During the ceremony, President Christodoulides highlighted the timing of the appointment, one day after Cyprus Independence Day, stressing the importance of strengthening the rule of law and accountability in the country. He expressed full confidence in Papaconstantinou’s ability to handle the demanding role, citing his experience in both the private and public sectors.

The president also outlined two key goals for the new auditor: modernizing the Audit Office to improve efficiency and ensuring the office upholds its independence under the Constitution. He called on Papaconstantinou to rigorously scrutinize all government branches, including the presidency, reinforcing that no one is above the law.