MPs accused the Presidential Palace on Wednesday of operating a “corruption mechanism” after examining the controversial Emily Thompson video showing references to €500,000 in donations and cash payments to the Presidential Palace.
Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki told Parliament’s Institutions Committee that a criminal investigation is underway with an investigator already appointed, but she declined to discuss details of the case.
AKEL MP Giorgos Loucaides said the video showed “a mechanism of interweaving and corruption aimed at obtaining favour from the presidential couple for preferential treatment”. He noted the Presidential Palace rejects the video entirely, but two elements have been confirmed: a €500,000 donation proposal and €75,000 from Remedica for forest fire response.
“30 years ago they took black bags with cash to candidates. Today it’s neither normal nor legal,” Loucaides said, referring to video claims about the €1 million limit in the 2023 presidential campaign, which the Government never disputed.
MP Irene Charalambidou said the President “owed an explanation to the people” and should open his doors to investigators. “If he didn’t take cash then he must let them examine everything thoroughly and give everything to the public. How and what he used for the campaign either in kind or cash,” she said.
She called Giorgos Lakkotrypis’s “cash only” phrase “another that will remain in history” and questioned how the Attorney General can advise the President whilst simultaneously directing the investigation response.
Committee chair Demetris Demetriou said MPs “saw a former minister operating as a lobbyist” in reference to Lakkotrypis, questioning whether he has a licence to operate this way. He called the situation “a major institutional issue about how sponsorships to the state are received”.
Piki explained the €500,000 relates to ChatGPT programme funding, with Cyprus in communication with OpenAI since 2025 following the President’s trip to America. The proposal came in September for a one-year pilot programme in schools.
“There was an investor (American) operating in our country who wanted to give the €500,000 amount,” she said. The donation hasn’t been completed, with ongoing discussion between the Education and Finance ministries and the Innovation Deputy Ministry. “The €500,000 amount is not ignored,” she said.
She stressed that “no contribution can be accepted in cash and no official demands or takes any contribution in any other way beyond legislation”. She reminded MPs that the government’s strategy focuses on attracting foreign investment, with officials meeting potential investors who are then referred to the Business Facilitation Centre.
“They must not and are never identified with any quid pro quo nor constitute a precondition for investments to be made,” Piki said of donations.
Accountant General Andreas Antoniades confirmed in a letter published by philenews that no €500,000 was given by an American investor to the state. He explained that only the Finance Minister approves donations, though his contribution is sometimes sought.
He gave an example from 19 November when he advised against accepting a donation because it didn’t meet certain conditions. “I’m in favour of strengthening legislation and putting provisions and criteria and conditions for donations to be made including satisfaction of accountability and transparency principles,” he said.
Regarding the €75,000 from Remedica, Antoniades said “the donation wasn’t made to the state but was made to a separate transitional account at the central bank for fire victims which I handle”.
“No donation is made with cash or anonymously,” he said.
MPs also challenged officials about the Independent Social Support Body, with Loucaides saying authorities are “still playing hide and seek for something the companies themselves should want to advertise”. He requested at least the names of major donors be submitted to Parliament.
Demetriou called on authorities to coordinate immediately and send donor data as Parliament requested. Tomorrow’s plenary session will see bills tabled about the Body’s future – either abolition or safeguarding its operation and publicising donors.
Piki said most sponsors are companies whose logos are published, adding that Constitutional Court decisions must be respected.
Antoniades said 23 natural persons and 95 legal persons made donations to the Body in 2025. He referred to a letter he submitted publishing company logos that donated in the last two academic years.
Loucaides questioned whether all contacts between the President or Presidential Palace officials and major interests are recorded, referencing government stances on taxation of excess profits and collective agreements. “Do you think it would be arbitrary for a citizen to estimate” connections between donations and policy decisions, he asked.
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