Charalampidou: "The bomb has exploded" – call for replacement of prosecutors in "Mafia State" case
AKEL MP Ireni Charalampidou attacked the Anti-Corruption Authority and DISY over the findings concerning the book "Mafia State".
Charalampidou calls for new handling of "Mafia State" case
AKEL MP Ireni Charalampidou issued strong statements against the Anti-Corruption Authority, the Legal Service and DISY, following developments surrounding the Authority's findings on the book "Mafia State". According to Politis, the MP published a post in which she characterised the revelations as "a nuclear-scale bomb".
"And now the bomb has exploded that we all knew existed and was of nuclear scale and swept the entire system this time," said Ms Charalampidou characteristically.
The MP speaks of potential criminal offences involving senior figures and institutions — from the executive and judicial authorities to the police and MOKAS. At the same time, she recalls a comment that had been made in the past regarding MOKAS's investigation: "Spray, sweep, clean them," she notes in her post.
"Toothless" Authority and obstacles to reforms
Charalampidou criticised the functioning of the Anti-Corruption Authority, pointing out that the absence of investigative powers has left it essentially weak. She mentioned that she and other individuals — including "friend Alexandra" — had fought to strengthen the Authority's competences, without result.
"Some of us fought for this together and friend Alexandra, but we hit a wall, just like the declaration-of-assets issue with opinions from the prosecutor about unconstitutionality," she said, drawing a parallel between the case and the declaration-of-assets matter and the non-inclusion of the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General.
The MP also expressed a view on the creation of the Authority under Anastasiades's government, arguing that it was created "in the midst of a massive scandal" and in a way that left the institution without adequate tools. "They made it so toothless that we are still running for how many years," she said.
Call for prosecutors to step down — appointed by the former President
A central point of the post is Ms Charalampidou's call for a change in the handling of the case by the Legal Service. The MP argues that the two former ministers serving today as prosecutors — who were appointed by the former President, who is said to be involved in the case — should step aside.
"And now the two ministers and current prosecutors of the President who is reportedly accused of criminal offences, who were appointed by him, should step aside and others from outside the Legal Service should take over so that they themselves as superiors cannot influence the matter," she stressed.
Attack on DISY — "their statements are sinking them even further"
Charalampidou appeared particularly sharp against DISY, which she described as "extremely exposed", pointing out that statements from its officials are further worsening the party's position. "DISY is extremely exposed and their statements are sinking them even further," she noted.
According to Ms Charalampidou, DISY is having difficulty accepting a reality that exposes the party's Honorary President. She also criticised the party's invocation of opinions from the Legal Service, assessing this stance as an attempt at cover-up.
Finally, the MP commented on the confrontation with AKEL, stating that DISY's defensive strategy consists of attacking others. "DISY's defence is AKEL, Onouphrios remembered AKEL's scandals, so let's go and cover up ours by attacking others. It is laughable and lamentable," she concluded.
Source: Politis