Former Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides has called for a unified fight against corruption, delivering a powerful speech at an event hosted by the Green Movement where he was honoured for his anti-corruption efforts.
Speaking on International Anti-Corruption Day, Michaelides painted a stark picture of Cyprus’s current state, detailing his joint efforts with former Attorney General Costas Clerides and highlighting persistent systemic issues plaguing the country.
Michaelides spoke about the dire reality faced by thousands of citizens, noting that despite positive economic ratings from foreign agencies, serious problems persist for a large segment of society, particularly the shrinking middle class.
In what appeared to be a prelude to a potential political career, Michaelides urged public mobilisation, concluding with a quote from Kazantzakis: “Unless man reaches the edge of the cliff, he won’t grow wings on his back to fly”.
In his speech, Michaelides strongly criticised President Christodoulides’s administration, particularly regarding appointments and transparency issues.
He specifically questioned the president’s handling of various matters, including his pension received since age 45 and appointments of close associates to key positions.
The former Auditor General highlighted economic concerns, noting that one in five Cypriots was at risk of poverty in 2023, with 14% remaining at risk even after social benefits.
He emphasised that for a household with two adults and two children under 14, the poverty threshold is approximately €1,800 monthly, including a thirteenth salary.
Michaelides also addressed institutional weaknesses, criticising monopolies in banking and healthcare sectors, environmental scandals, and issues with digital transformation projects.
He argued that these problems stem from what he termed an “incompetent, corrupt state dominated by cronyism and mediocrity”.
“The country needs strong leadership at the top, uncompromising on principles and with ethics that will govern by example and lead the state towards professional excellence”, Michaelides said, calling for citizens to act as the “Voice of Justice” to effect radical change in Cyprus.
