Nicosia, Cyprus. The legal service on Tuesday rejected a parliamentary request to disclose donors to the social support agency until recently chaired by first lady Philippa Kasera. The decision prevents further parliamentary scrutiny of the fund’s financing.
Legal opinion cited in refusal
In a letter, accountant-general Andreas Antoniades informed the House institutions committee that he would not submit the names of donors or the amounts contributed from 2020 onwards, citing a legal service opinion that found no legal basis for such disclosure.
The opinion warned that complying with the request could expose the agency to administrative sanctions and would breach EU personal data protection law.
Parliamentary request and oversight aims
The request was submitted on January 15 by committee chairman Demetris Demetriou as part of parliamentary oversight into the funding of the agency.
MPs sought full disclosure of donors between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2025, as well as information on anonymous contributions, to examine potential conflicts of interest and allegations of political patronage.
Allegations and audit findings
A widely circulated video suggested that investors seeking to bypass bureaucratic procedures or gain presidential support were encouraged to contribute to the fund chaired by the first lady rather than to other charities.
Further questions were raised by an audit service report referring to a special relationship because the president of the agency is married to the President.
Donations and reported figures
The audit service report highlighted cases in which individuals or companies made substantial donations while holding state contracts, negotiating major agreements with the government, or awaiting regulatory decisions.
Between March 2023, when Kasera assumed the presidency of the Agency, and the end of 2025, private contributions reportedly reached €6.4 million.
The audit service identified donations of up to €600,000 by individuals, large contributions by companies negotiating state contracts, shipping firms affected by tax decisions, financial services companies under regulatory scrutiny, and persons linked to the national investment programme.
What should parliament do next to continue its oversight of the agency’s financing?