Thousands gather to protest dismissal of auditor-general

Thousands of people gathered on Sunday to protest former Auditor-General Odysseas Michaelides’ dismissal by the Supreme Constitutional Court.

The case for his dismissal was brought to the court by Attorney-General George Savvides.

The protest outside the Presidential Palace on Sunday was organised following the ruling for inappropriate conduct, and people from Akel, Edek, and the Greens participated.

They are protesting alleged corruption of the system of justice.

Police are taking strict precautions and have placed vehicles outside the attorney-general’s office.

In his speech during the event, Akel MP Giorgos Loukaides said that the dismissal of Odysseas Michaelides was the straw that broke the camel’s back and caused a tsunami of anger and indignation in society.

“The dismissal of Odysseas Michaelides has created, at the same time, a wave of determination and will in the vast majority of the people. To defend the rule of law and democracy. To resist the system of corruption and cover-up. To shout out to those who want to silence every disturbing voice. We will never allow the ‘law of silence’ to be imposed,” he said.

Commenting on the protest, deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou said: “As far as AKEL’s mobilisation is concerned, our position is that every party, every political force, every organised group, but certainly every citizen, has the right to demonstrate, always peacefully, within the framework of the law. Beyond that, we must respectfully point out that in the effort to fight corruption, no one can ‘wag a finger’ at the other, neither the political powers nor the executive nor the legislature. There should be cooperation at the highest level to see how to address a long-standing problem that has existed since the beginning of the Republic of Cyprus and that is why, when it comes to corruption, we should say little and do more.”

Last week, in a unanimous ruling, a panel of eight judges found his conduct had been inappropriate and thus he was unfit for his duties.

The 209-page decision was hard-hitting, saying Michaelides repeatedly misinformed the public, crossed the line and did not even do the bare minimum his role demands of him in terms of conduct.

In his first statement after the ruling, Attorney-General George Savvides on Friday issued a warning to those decrying the Supreme Constitutional Court’s decision to fire the now former Auditor-General Odysseas Michaelides.

Speaking to television channel Alpha, he said, “a court order has been issued and I just want to emphasise that it is important to support the [Republic’s] institutions, and to show the required respect to the Supreme Constitutional Court. Woe betide us if we lose faith in the courts.”