Apostolos Tomaras
At the forefront of the judicial process in the Supreme Constitutional Court is the case involving the potential dismissal of Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides due to alleged misconduct. On Tuesday, July 16, Michaelides is expected to make his final appearance before the Council to complete cross-examination by Attorney General George Savvidis' legal team. This phase is likely to conclude with Michaelides responding to Attorney-General Dinos Kallis' lawyers. The final step before the judges reserve their decision will be the closing arguments, expected by the end of the week if Michaelides' cross-examination is completed on Tuesday.
Both sides
Throughout the proceedings, both sides believe they have achieved their objectives. The Attorney General's legal team has presented evidence they believe substantiates Michaelides' misconduct, supporting their application for dismissal. Conversely, Michaelides maintains that the actions discussed were within his duties as Auditor General. Notably, there has been considerable debate within legal circles regarding the tactics employed by Michaelides' legal team. Observers have noted a varied approach, sometimes adopting a conciliatory stance initially and later a more assertive approach during cross-examination.
Decision
Under normal circumstances, the Supreme Constitutional Court would have recessed for the summer by early July. However, the continuation of proceedings suggests a commitment to concluding the case promptly. The exact timing of the court's decision remains uncertain. Legal sources speculate that if closing arguments wrap up by the week's end, a decision could potentially be reached as early as August. Alternatively, some believe the decision may extend into early September, allowing ample time for deliberation by council members on a case expected to be significant in local legal history.
[This article was translated from its Greek original]
