Minister of Interior refuses to disclose details on Limassol mall permits

On November 6, 2026, it was revealed that Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou has refused to provide parliamentary oversight details regarding the government's decision to approve one commercial mall project in Agios Athanasios while rejecting a similar application in the same area. The issue stems from a Cabinet decision made on July 16, 2026, which prompted ALMA movement MP Michalis Paraskevas to submit a parliamentary inquiry on August 10, 2026, seeking clarification on the criteria, deviations, and compensatory measures applied to these developments.

In his formal response dated October 29, 2026, Minister Ioannou declined to provide the requested data. He questioned the motive behind the inquiry, suggesting it did not fall within the scope of legitimate parliamentary oversight. The Minister cited the protection of personal data under GDPR, the principle of proportionality, and confidentiality requirements as primary justifications for his refusal. No specific details regarding the rationale for the disparate treatment of the two mall projects were disclosed in the response, leaving the parliamentary questions largely unanswered and raising concerns about transparency in urban planning decisions.