The President of the House of Representatives and leader of the Democratic Rally (DISY), Annita Demetriou, joined by the Democratic Alignment (DIPA) and the Democratic Party (DIKO), has called for an immediate criminal investigation into a video alleging institutional corruption inside the Presidential Palace, as the fallout from the revelations continues.
In a formal statement issued on Monday, 12 January 2026, Demetriou warned that the scandal has severely damaged the prestige of the Republic at a critical juncture, as Cyprus currently holds the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
While Demetriou demanded the total abolition of the Independent Social Support Body, DIPA adopted a more measured tone, acknowledging the fund’s “significant work” but insisting on the immediate publication of all donations received over recent years to ensure “no shadow” remains over its operations.
DIPA, a junior partner in the governing coalition, said that “no one is above the law” and called for an in-depth investigation without delay or interference. The party noted that the resignation of the Director of the President’s Office, Charalambos Charalambous, should serve to de-escalate the tension and create conditions for “institutional calm,” rather than prejudging guilt. “Democracy functions with institutions, sobriety, and transparent processes, not through decisions made in a state of anger,” the DIPA statement read.
Demetriou, however, maintained a more aggressive stance, laying out a strategy to restore institutional trust:
- Ex officio investigation: A call for the Attorney-general of the Law Office to examine the video for potential violations of the law and institutional procedures.
- Structural reform of the support body: Demetriou’s demand for the abolition of the fund—previously chaired by the First Lady—contrasts with DIPA’s call for full disclosure of its financial records.
- Political accountability: An appeal for the government to take specific policy initiatives to prove there is no attempt at a cover-up.
DIKO sets terms for continued support
Speaking to ANT1 on Monday, 12 January 2026, DIKO President Nicolas Papadopoulos expressed “profound sadness,” stating that the President’s closest aides had left him “exposed.” Papadopoulos confirmed that his party has set specific conditions for its ongoing support of the government:
- Criminal investigators: The immediate appointment of criminal investigators to scrutinise the video’s claims.
- Abolition of the Independent Social Support Body: The total dissolution of the Independent Social Support Body and the transfer of its assets to the State Scholarship Foundation.
- Accountability: He described Charalambous’s resignation as “imperative” due to “exceptionally poor judgment,” though he clarified that DIKO is not currently seeking to withdraw from the government, opting instead to give the President an “opportunity” to rectify the situation.
The intervention follows claims by the government that the video is part of a “hybrid attack” by Russian-linked networks designed to destabilise Nicosia during its EU Presidency.
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