Nicosia, Cyprus. Alma leader Odysseas Michaelides said his party may have treated former MEP Demetris Papadakis unfairly when it removed him from its parliamentary election ballot. He said the movement acted under pressure from serious allegations linked to the ‘Sandy’ case.
Comments on Papadakis removal
In an interview with Sigma on Monday, Michaelides said “it is not excluded that we did Papadakis an injustice,” adding that the decision “personally saddens me.”
He said Alma had acted on the basis of the information available at the time and stressed that the investigation into the case remains incomplete.
Allegations and denial
Papadakis was removed from Alma’s ballot in April after allegations published by journalist Makarios Drousiotis linked him to disputed messages connected to claims surrounding former Supreme Court judge Michalakis Christodoulou.
Papadakis has denied all allegations and said the material is fabricated.
Decision described as political
Michaelides said the decision to remove Papadakis had been “extremely difficult” and described it as a political rather than personal matter.
“We never questioned his ethics and honesty,” he said, while adding that the absence of clear answers one week before the elections had justified the party’s caution.
Criticism of political establishment
Michaelides defended Alma’s broader anti-corruption campaign and criticised the political establishment, accusing both the previous Disy administration and the current government of failing to confront powerful interests.
“The government of Nikos Christodoulides, which was supported by the president of Diko (Nikolas Pappadopoulos), continued and continues to practice patronage and does not dare to clash with major interests,” he said.
What do you think parties should do when serious allegations emerge shortly before an election?