By Rafaella Dimitriadis
Questions over a €500,000 contribution that has dominated public debate in recent days were addressed Wednesday by Deputy Minister to the President Irini Piki during a Parliamentary Institutions Committee session on the Independent Social Support Authority.
Piki hit back at swirling rumors, stressing the contribution has not been made, which is why it does not appear in any official records. She said the figure referenced in a viral video relates to potential funding for a pilot “ChatGPT for Education” program, stemming from initiatives discussed during President Christodoulides’ recent U.S. visit. “This concerns possible support for implementing an AI learning program in schools as part of a private initiative,” Piki said.
The deputy minister also emphasized that discussions around foreign investment in Cyprus will continue with full transparency. The potential contribution, she added, has been under consideration since September 2025 and would involve about 5,000 students—but no decision has been finalized. “Once a formal commitment is made, the legally required procedures will be followed, including approval by the Council of Ministers,” Piki said.
Piki took aim at misinformation circulating in the media, insisting the Authority has always operated legally, transparently, and with full accountability. “All donations are handled exclusively through bank transfers via the Central Bank of Cyprus. The Authority has never managed cash, despite claims to the contrary,” she said. She also confirmed the donor registry has always been available to auditing authorities, the auditor general, and the general accountant, who also acts as the fund’s treasurer.
The controversy erupted after AKEL lawmaker Christos Christofides raised concerns on January 19 about a video showing the president’s office referencing an American investor planning to donate €500,000 to the state. Christofides asked if such a contribution had occurred and requested a record of all donations over the past three years. The general accountant confirmed no contribution had been made.
Deputy Minister of Innovation Nikodimos Damianou clarified the €500,000 reference concerns a private initiative supporting the pilot AI program, purely educational and social. He noted coordination between the Ministries of Finance, Education, and Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy. Damianou confirmed the initiative is the “ChatGPT for Education” program, with discussions ongoing with OpenAI, and that costs had been publicly disclosed at a press conference on January 9.
The committee session turned heated, with lawmakers trading sharp exchanges. DYsY lawmaker Dimitris Dimitriou questioned oversight of officials’ meetings and the lobbying activities of former ministers such as George Lakkotrypis. AKEL lawmaker Giorgos Loukaidis pressed whether the €75,000 mentioned in the video had been correctly allocated; the General Accountant responded the funds went to wildfire victims, not government revenue.
Independent MP Alexandra Attalidou said citizens are losing trust in public institutions and called for mandatory transparency for all contributions. The Commissioner for Personal Data Protection, Maria Manoli Christofidou, weighed in on privacy issues, adding fuel to the fire. Heated exchanges included accusations of unethical behavior, underscoring the intensity of the debate.
Dimitriou concluded the Authority should continue supporting those in genuine need, but with greater transparency, particularly around donations. He noted much of the public concern could have been avoided if existing laws on donation disclosure had been properly enforced.
*Read the Greek version here.
