Cypriot political parties outline anti-corruption proposals ahead of elections

Ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, major Cypriot political parties have presented strategies to address corruption in public institutions. The Democratic Rally (DISY), represented by Onoufrios Koullas, advocates for institutional reforms including strengthened internal audit mechanisms across ministries and automated procurement procedures to prevent abuse. Conversely, AKEL, represented by Giorgos Koukoumas, contends that existing laws are sufficient but lack enforcement due to a lack of political will from the government and the Attorney General. AKEL specifically points to past unresolved scandals, such as the 'black van' surveillance case, as evidence of failing accountability. The Democratic Party (DIKO) has proposed a digital platform called 'Follow The Money' to increase transparency by publishing government contracts, project progress, and payment data. Additionally, DIKO advocates for prioritizing the adjudication of corruption-related court cases. These proposals reflect the growing concern over institutional transparency as a central issue in the current electoral discourse.