The Unprecedented Legal Showdown in Cyprus
In an unprecedented move, the Attorney General of Cyprus has initiated a legal challenge that has sent ripples through the nation’s judiciary system. The Attorney General of Cyprus has filed a petition to the Supreme Constitutional Court seeking the dismissal of Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides for what has been described as inappropriate conduct. This high-profile case marks a rare instance where two independent institutions have been pitted against each other in a court of law, with the Constitutional Court being called upon to adjudicate on the matter.
According to sources, the petition was filed based on a regulatory provision from 2021, and it will be scrutinized by the Constitutional Council. The legal community is abuzz as this legal battle will involve top legal professionals, with both sides enlisting prominent lawyers to represent them in what promises to be a closely watched constitutional matter.
On one side, representing the Auditor General are esteemed lawyers George Triantafyllidis, Christos Clirides, and Panos Ioannides. On the other, the Attorney General’s interests are being defended by the law firms Kalli and Kalli and Loukis Papafilippou. The initiation of this legal battle did not come as a surprise to many observers, given the ongoing tensions between the two offices, which were particularly evident during the naturalization case controversies.
The petition was formally registered by Dinos Kalli of Kalli & Kalli Law Firm and George Valiantis of L. Papafilippou & Co. Law Firm. Accompanying the request is a comprehensive dossier that reportedly contains substantial evidence to support the call for Michaelides’s dismissal. This includes a variety of communications and public statements made by the Auditor General or his office’s spokesperson, particularly those related to accusations made by Michaelides to the Anti-Corruption Authority against Savvas Angelides for alleged conflict of interest.
Michaelides has reportedly begun reviewing the documentation provided with the petition and will be formulating his response with guidance from his legal team. He maintains that his conduct has been above board, but ultimately, the decision will rest with the Council.
Legal experts point out that there is scant precedent for such dismissal requests, with the case of former Deputy Attorney General Rikkos Erotocritou being the only one to have previously reached the Supreme Court. The Constitution and laws of Cyprus do not explicitly define “inappropriate behavior” in this context, leaving much to interpretation by the courts.
Should this case proceed to a hearing, it is anticipated that the Auditor General’s defense may delve into past cases managed by the Legal Service, potentially summoning witnesses to testify on matters that have long been contentious.
The Auditor General has a 21-day window to file an objection to the Attorney General’s request for dismissal. By objecting, Michaelides would be asserting his right to contest the allegations of inappropriate behavior and defend his record in office.
