AKEL’s secretary-general Stefanos Stefanou announced plans to send a letter requesting that the Independent Authority Against Corruption investigate the Vasilikos terminal project during a press conference.
“The Vasilikos scandal, like the developing scandal of the electrical interconnection, has protagonists; it has names, and everything is in the air,” Stefanou said during a party press conference titled “Security, Sufficiency – Cheap Electricity.”
The opposition leader criticised both the previous Anastasiades-Democratic Rally government and the current Christodoulides administration, describing the latter as a continuation of the previous, corrupt government.
Opposition criticises current and previous governments
“It was not AKEL that made PR festivities, neither for Vasilikos nor for the electrical interconnection,” Stefanou said, referring to government celebrations at the presidential palace with cables and plugs to announce the alleged end of Cyprus’ energy isolation.
He stated Democratic Rally cannot remain silent now, adding that institutions must also act to investigate these scandals.
Stefanou expressed dissatisfaction with the attorney-general’s position declining investigation because the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating. The European investigation covers 101 million euros the European Union will not provide, he said.
Parliamentary material available for investigation
“The matter has been discussed many times in the House of Representatives. Meeting minutes from the presidential palace have been submitted. Other minutes have also been submitted,” Stefanou said.
He described available material as extensive, stating political will determines whether investigation proceeds.
The party leader noted that costs extend significantly beyond initial projections, stating those who believe expenses are limited to 67 million euros or 101 million euros in funding are mistaken.
These will be paid from consumers’ pockets, he said.
The AKEL leader noted contradictions between the energy minister saying the electrical interconnection project proceeds normally while the finance minister calls it unviable.
He began his remarks with a statement from 14 January 2019 when serving as party spokesman, showing AKEL had expressed concerns about the agreement at the time.
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