Makarios Drousiotis, speaking on the “Mera Mesimeri” show, responded to the accusations made by Nicos Anastasiades, calling them slanderous.
After initially welcoming the fact that Anastasiades confirmed that before 2004, the two of them had no connection and that the events surrounding the Cyprus issue brought them closer, he then noted that their relationship ended in 2017 after the events of Crans Montana, again due to the Cyprus issue.
He characterised Anastasiades’s references to him being an “employee in his presence at the Democratic Rally” as false and that he was hired as an advisor on the Cyprus issue as slanderous accusations, noting that this was done on a voluntary basis and that he was never a salaried employee.
As he had previously mentioned on the “X” platform, he sent a letter to DISY President Annita and former President Averof Neofytou, calling on them to comment on Anastasiades’s claim that he was a salaried employee of their party.
Responding to subsequent references to his and his wife’s transition to Brussels, he said that Christos Stylianides had proposed that he go to Brussels as an advisor, while arguing that due to a misunderstanding, he would receive a much lower salary than he was initially entitled to (around €6,000), and his wife would also incur income losses, making their livelihood difficult. Therefore, he said, there was an issue with the fact that the salary was not viable, as he pointed out.
Then, as he added, for purposes of facilitating the situation, it was proposed that his wife be transferred from her position as an educator at the Permanent Representation of Cyprus in Brussels, which, as he claimed, was accepted by President Anastasiades, pointing out that this is a common practice and is not something reprehensible.
Then, as he added, in March 2014, while he was in Brussels, he was informed by the then Minister of Education, Costas Kadis, that his wife could not take the position, so as not to expose the President, so she remained unemployed in Brussels for a year.
Subsequently, as Drousiotis pointed out, his wife applied for a position as a special expert in the Commission, which she secured and held for two years, after which she resigned. So, he emphasised, Anastasiades’s claims are baseless, and pointing out that he has been slandering his wife for many years.
Finally, he responded to Anastasiades’s references to him selling books, noting, “I sell books, yes, what else would I sell? Passports?”, and added that he needs an income to counter the attacks he has been facing all these years.
