A political crisis has begun in Cyprus. Two important officials have resigned from the Presidential Palace. A criminal investigation is now underway. This happened because of a video that appeared online. The video may show illegal recordings. It might also show problems with lobbying rules. This situation is difficult for President Nikos Christodoulides. Cyprus will soon lead the European Union.
The problem started on January 8th. A video was posted on X, a social media site. An unknown person shared it. A former official, Giorgos Lakkotrypis, complained. He said he was recorded and the video was changed unfairly. This complaint led to a bigger inquiry. An independent investigation will now happen. A former judge, Andreas Paschalides, will lead it. The investigation will look at where the video came from. It will also check for any criminal actions. This includes possible lobbying law breaks.
The video's release caused immediate changes. By Monday, Charalambos Charalambous resigned. He was the Director of the Presidential Office. He is also the President's nephew-in-law. Philippa Karsera also resigned. She was the President of the Social Support Body. She is also the President’s wife. These resignations happened after some people felt the government reacted slowly. The timing of these events is important.
Some people think the video is a "hybrid operation." They believe it was made to be released now. This is because Cyprus will soon lead the EU. People are wondering why the video was made and shared. The investigation will try to find out if the video is real. It will also look for the reasons behind it. A €150 million investment in the energy sector is also being studied. This is connected to potential lobbying issues.
This crisis has led to changes in staff. It has also increased political attention. Opposition parties are worried. They want more openness and responsibility. The scandal is happening at a bad time for President Christodoulides. He was preparing for an important EU meeting. This domestic trouble could affect that. The investigator has three months to finish the report. The government will try to rebuild trust during this time.