Akel rebukes Odysseas Michaelides over remarks linking its leader to Vasiliko scandal

Nicosia, Cyprus. Opposition party Akel on Monday criticised former auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides for suggesting its leader was implicated in the Vasiliko scandal. Michaelides made the comments on CyBC after raising the claim during a televised leaders’ debate last week.

Akel response to CyBC remarks

Akel said Michaelides, now the leader of the Alma party, repeated “the baseless and dishonest claim” that the Akel leader is involved in the Vasiliko scandal. The party accused him of using smear tactics.

Vasiliko LNG agreement and party positions

Akel said it was the first to condemn the Vasiliko LNG agreement concluded between the state and a Chinese-led contractor in late 2019. It said others “looked the other way” until the European prosecutor’s office took action, adding that Michaelides was aware of this.

Election campaign and public reaction

Akel said it was “sad” that Michaelides was “basing his entire election campaign” on portraying himself as a “Messiah” fighting corruption while dismissing others as corrupt. The party said Cyprus is small and “everyone knows who is who,” adding that disagreeing is different from “slinging mud” to win votes.

Polling and wider political disputes

A recent poll showed Alma could garner around 9 per cent of the vote, enough to enter parliament. Michaelides has also clashed with Disy, accusing its leadership of corruption.

How do you assess the impact of such accusations on the election campaign?