Dispute between Audit Office and Parliamentary Committee over oversight

During the first session of the Parliamentary Committee for the Monitoring of Development Plans and Public Expenditure Control, a dispute arose between current Auditor General Andreas Papakonstantinou and former Auditor General and current MP Odysseas Michaelides. Michaelides requested access to internal minutes from the Audit Office's management team to prepare a legislative proposal regarding the institutionalization of this team. Papakonstantinou refused to disclose these internal documents, arguing that the Audit Office is an independent body that should not be subject to parliamentary control, as doing so would violate the Constitution. Michaelides maintained that while the Audit Office is independent in its auditing work, it remains accountable to Parliament, citing the Constitution and Law 21/1985. The former Auditor General challenged Papakonstantinou to seek an opinion from INTOSAI to determine if parliamentary oversight of such documents undermines the office's independence. Papakonstantinou stated that he would seek legal advice if the Committee persists in requesting internal working papers. Other MPs from AKEL and the Democratic Alignment parties supported the Committee's right to request information.