Opinion

Auditor-General Odysseas Michaelides came under further criticism, this time from the Cabinet of Ministers, which stated in writing that while his service is respected, he has overstepped the limits of his powers, tried to take an executive role and undermined his own organisation - a statement he in turn has rejected - in writing.

Written statements have been the order of things recently between Interior Minister Socrates Hasikos, the AG and now - the entire Cabinet of Ministers.

Michaelides commented that the Cabinet should ask itself if it wants an AG who ignored the serious issues like corruption facing the state system, or left unanswered the comments from ministers which amount to libel against him.

The AG also denied that he has overstepped his powers, and has come under considerable public pressure from Hasikos to back off on his due diligence when it comes to wasteful or corrupt state operations. It’s clear that after decades of entrenched corruption, the person courageous enough to call those responsible to attend to their duties is the first in the firing line. Just in the last few years alone, a multi-million-euro corruption scandal was uncovered in Paphos, forcing ex-mayor Savvas Vergas to step down.

What choice does the AG have but to appeal to the media to support him in his efforts - when it’s obvious that the ministers do not have any intention of changing the system for the better and commit to more transparency, efficiency and accountability.

The media is now awaiting another written statement to land in their inboxes…