The Control Committee’s parliamentary session ended with strong criticism from MPs about the Independent Social Support Agency. Many were unhappy about the absence of First Lady Philippa Karsera-Christodoulides. A proposal to abolish the Agency is expected, which is stirring up political disputes.
Her absence was unfortunate since she was supposed to answer questions about the Agency’s management and procedures. MPs stressed that she needed to be there for proper parliamentary oversight. The discussion focused on how transparent the Agency is with its resources, especially regarding a proposal that would require full disclosure of major donors. Supporters of this proposal believe citizens should know who funds an agency based at the Presidential Palace. Recent information suggests that if the Agency is abolished, it won’t affect its beneficiaries.
The Committee called for more scrutiny, as the issue of donor lists remains a “thorny” topic expected to return to Parliament soon. The Auditor General presented a report about the Agency. In this report, he found that companies negotiating state contracts also made contributions to the Agency. One company, while bidding for a contract worth over €10 million, continued to contribute.
Additionally, an individual whose company got a permit for commercial premises contributed €200,000 to the Agency each year for 2023 and 2024, totaling €400,000. After the session, the Police received the report’s findings, which will be reviewed by a criminal investigator. Following some reactions to a controversial video and ongoing political conflict about donations and transparency issues, AKEL has submitted a proposal to abolish the Independent Social Support Agency in Parliament.
AKEL has sent a letter to Parliament services to prepare a legislative proposal that includes transferring the Agency’s cash reserves to another public body if it is abolished. On the other hand, parties like DISY and DIKO do not want immediate abolition but are pushing for donor lists to be published and for more transparency, showing different approaches to the issue.
The First Lady informed through a letter that she would miss today’s session due to prior professional commitments. She stated, “As Director of Consular and Schengen Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I will participate on behalf of organizers in the Informal Ministerial Meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers held in Nicosia (21-23/1), within Cyprus’s EU Council Presidency framework.”
