Nicosia, Cyprus. Alma has called for criminal investigators examining the findings of the Mafia State report to be selected by the independent anti-corruption authority rather than by the cabinet, saying the process must be free from actual and perceived conflicts of interest.
The intervention followed confirmation by government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis that the government intends to appoint a team of independent criminal investigators to assess the findings of the authority’s probe into allegations raised in the book Mafia State.
Alma challenges appointment process
The report concluded that former president Nicos Anastasiades may face potential criminal liability for abuse of power.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Alma said the main issue was not the number of investigators to be appointed but “who will choose them, who will appoint them and with what institutional legitimacy”.
Conflict of interest concerns
The party said President Nikos Christodoulides faces an “obvious conflict of interest” because he served as a minister in the Anastasiades administration and also gave testimony during the investigation.
“With two obstacles and an obvious conflict of interest, will Christodoulides decide on the investigators?” the party asked.
References to earlier recusals
Alma pointed to previous decisions excluding officials from involvement in the case.
It referred to the recusal of deputy attorney-general Savvas Angelides because of his role in the Anastasiades government and the exclusion of prosecutor Elena Kleopa from the prosecutorial council after she appeared as a witness in the matter.
Call for institutional independence
The party said that although the cabinet became involved because the leadership of the legal service was unable to act, the exceptional procedure should not create further institutional concerns.
It said accountability could only be secured through a process that is demonstrably independent from the outset.
