President Nikos Christodoulides has dismissed corruption allegations by former auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides as ‘fake news’, denying claims he attended the inauguration of an allegedly illegal leisure centre project.

The controversy centres on Michaelides’ allegations that Christodoulides participated in a “political deal” to legitimise an unlawfully constructed venue. According to the former auditor-general, authorities fast-tracked approvals after Christodoulides took office, issuing a building permit in April 2023 and an operating licence by September despite unmet legal requirements.

“Another fake news story,” Christodoulides responding to accusations that the Audit Office was being weaponised.
“I didn’t attend any inauguration, but the competent ministers will respond.”
When pressed about potential motives behind the allegations, he declined further comment, saying he had “very serious matters to attend to.”

Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou latter clarified the venue’s licence was approved on June 8, 2022, before the current administration, through an exceptions committee process. He confirmed the April 2023 building permit was based on these terms, though the owner’s later request to amend conditions was rejected. Authorities issued an enforcement order in May 2024 after identifying violations.

Michaelides described the approval speed as “unprecedented”, suggesting an “invisible hand” was involved. He alleged that the president presided over the October 2023 inauguration, a detail allegedly omitted from the present Audit Office’s report. An MP’s November 2023 complaint had explicitly accused the owner of striking a “political deal” with Christodoulides.

Ioannou countered that violations were identified independently before the Audit Office report released on Monday and emphasised the licensing decision predated the current government. He acknowledged enforcement delays but cited recent demolitions of other illegal developments as evidence of the administration’s commitment.

The former auditor-general has alerted EU bodies to two other alleged Audit Office misconduct cases and demands the leisure centre matter be referred to Cyprus’ Anti-Corruption Authority, threatening to escalate the issue post-Easter if no action is taken.