Nikos Anastasiades withdraws from DISY party bodies following corruption probe
Former Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiades has announced his decision to voluntarily withdraw from all collective bodies of his party, DISY, until an investigation into allegations against him is concluded. The allegations stem from a report by the Anti-Corruption Authority concerning the book 'Mafia State' by Makarios Drousiotis, which outlines potential criminal liability involving 15 individuals, including seven former officials. Anastasiades, who served as a party co-founder and official for 50 years, stated he intends to clear his name. He has formally communicated his decision to the current DISY leader, Annita Demetriou. The report has been referred to the police and the Cabinet by the Legal Service, with both the Attorney General and his deputy recusing themselves from the council overseeing the process. The government is currently discussing the potential appointment of an independent criminal investigator to ensure impartiality. While Anastasiades denies the allegations and criticizes the investigative process, internal pressure within the party had been building for his temporary withdrawal. The Cabinet met on June 24 to discuss the next steps regarding the investigation.