[Cyprus Times] "The Authority has no teeth to conduct a criminal investigation" says Achilleas Demetriades on "State - Mafia"

"The Authority has no teeth to conduct a criminal investigation" says Achilleas Dimitriadis on "State - Mafia" Mavroyiannis' initiative positive, he notes

The issue of corruption and its treatment is necessary to be a central point in the pre-election dialogue.

As Achilleas Dimitriadis says, "I prioritise the issue of golden passports, with specific proposals in Pillar I of the "Honest State" Governance Programme.

I consider the initiative of presidential candidate Andreas Mavroyiannis to refer the revelations of author Makarios Droussiotis in his book "State - Mafia" to the Anti-Corruption Authority for examination. Unfortunately, the Authority, as its legislation has been passed, has no teeth to conduct a criminal investigation.

I recall that the findings of the M. Nicolatos Commission (2021) and the Auditor General's report (2022) have demonstrated with facts and evidence the extensive corruption and conflict of interest of the President and members of the Council of Ministers in the Cyprus Investment Programme versus Naturalisations. Recently the Auditor General has requested access to a file on mass naturalisations related to the Drusiotis revelations.

I also recall that infringement proceedings are ongoing in Brussels against Cyprus on the issue of golden passports, as well as on the issue of reduced VAT.

On the corruption issues surrounding the gold passports, strong will and determination are needed to reach a full investigation.

If elected to the Presidency of the Republic, at the first meeting of the new Council of Ministers, I intend to:

1. Propose the adoption of a Regulation for the President and members of the Council of Ministers that will prevent conflicts of interest.[/P]
2. Propose the adoption of a Regulation for the President and members of the Council of Ministers that will prevent conflicts of interest.[/P]
   1. Propose the adoption of a Regulation for the President and members of the Council of Ministers that will prevent conflicts of interest.
   2. To ask the new Cabinet to appoint independent criminal investigators to continue and complete the investigation from where it left off with the Nicolatos Report.
   3. Invite the European Prosecutor General's Office to assist with its expertise in the full investigation.
   4. Instruct all government departments connected with the gold passport issue to make it an immediate priority to recover the revenue lost by the state.
   
   

   We need determination to get out of the vicious cycle of corruption and give our country prestige and credibility.

   The Honourable State is my answer to corruption," he concludes.

   
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