President Nikos Christodoulides took flak on Monday for having vetoed a law that would disclose the donors to a support fund for indigent students that is managed by the First Lady.
The president refused to sign off on the law, passed about a month ago, and referred the matter to the Supreme Court.
Under the law, the names of donors – individuals or corporations – for amounts of €5,000 and over must be published. The stated purpose of the mandatory disclosures was to boost transparency.
The law, which parliament passed nearly unanimously, came about as a legislative proposal tabled by two Disy MPs.
In a statement on Monday, Akel MP Christos Christofides expressed “surprise” at the president’s veto.
“The law aims to enhance transparency and accountability. If political parties and other organisations are obligated to publish the donations they receive, why shouldn’t the presidential palace, the centre of executive power likewise do so?” he asked.
Known as the Social Support Body, the fund collects private donations and distributes the proceeds to poor students, covering tuition and/or accommodation. It was established in 2014 and placed under the wing of the First Lady, then Andri Anastasiades.
Under the management of the current First Lady, Philippa Karsera, the fund gathered €2.2 million during the first nine months alone of the current administration. By comparison, under the stewardship of Anastasiades from 2014 to 2023 the fund had raised €4.2 million.
Karsera had twice appeared at the House ethics committee debating the bill that would mandate donor disclosure. In opposing the proposed disclosures, she argued that the publicity would in fact discourage prospective donors.
To which some MPs replied that donors – especially corporations – would be more than glad to advertise their charity.
Karsera also stated that donations are made to banks via wire transfer and are completely above board.
Critics suggested the fund could be abused as a vehicle for vote harvesting during election time.
However, MPs from parties backing the Christodoulides administration wondered what the real motive behind the bill was, given that for nine years no one had complained about a lack of transparency while First Lady Anastasiades was in charge of the fund.
