Newsroom
Kathimerini's Apostolos Tomaras reports today that the Constitutional Court of Cyprus has ruled unanimously to dismiss Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides following a request by the Attorney General, George Savvidis. The decision, delivered after nearly three hours of deliberation, is seen as a condemnation of Michaelides' behavior, specifically citing inappropriate public conduct and a failure to respect the presumption of innocence.
The court’s ruling was based on 15 points, largely siding with the Attorney General's petition, except in one instance where it acknowledged Michaelides' complaints against the Assistant Attorney General in the Anti-Corruption Authority. However, the judges criticized Michaelides for publicly reacting to the Authority’s decisions, indicating that inter-institutional disputes should not be fought publicly.
The court also expressed disapproval of Michaelides' social media behavior, particularly his reckless use of "X" (formerly Twitter) and his failure to distance himself from obscene posts made by his supporters online. The court highlighted Michaelides' obsessive behavior, such as continuously questioning the Assistant Attorney General’s acquittal and involving unrelated disputes in public discussions, such as a pension matter involving a university rector.
In the final part of the ruling, the judges determined that Michaelides’ actions, including unfounded public accusations and a lack of respect for the constitutional powers of the Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General, were indecent and below the standard expected of someone in his office.
The government, through Deputy Spokesman Yannis Antoniou, stated that it respects the court’s decision and would have done so regardless of the outcome. The appointment of a new Auditor General will likely take place after President Nikos Christodoulides returns from the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
