"Based on the Report of the Audit Service, AKEL, DIKO, EDEK, DIPA, had no connection and participation in the presidential elections. They didn't support anyone, they didn't do any campaigning and they had ZERO expenses"
Averof Neophytou goes on the counterattack, regarding the Audit Service's report on the pre-election expenses of the 2023 presidential elections and calls on it to be presented immediately, with clarity and without formal evasions, "because no one can hide behind ambiguities and footnotes, seeking to divert attention from existing to non-existent issues", as the former president of DISY states in his written statement.
"Based on the Report of the Audit Service, AKEL, DIKO, EDEK, DIPA, had no connection and participation in the presidential elections. They didn't endorse anyone, they didn't campaign and they had ZERO spending. Which candidates broke the law? The names are hidden in the footnotes", says Mr. Neofytou characteristically.
The entire statement of Mr. Neophytos:
I carefully read the Audit Service Report on the 2023 Presidential Election.
First of all, I would like to state briefly that in 2021, state sponsorships for parties included sponsorships for any elections. Also, that each candidate for the Presidency of the Republic is entitled to make pre-election expenses up to 1 million euros.
So we find, I and all the citizens, that based on the specific Report of the Audit Service, AKEL, DIKO, EDEK, DIPA, neither had nor supported candidates! They didn't have any involvement and didn't spend a single cent on the election campaign! Therefore, according to the Audit Service, they are completely legitimate!
But, in the Report itself, we also find that Nikos Christodoulidis and Andreas Mavraganis exceeded the 1 million mark – while, I repeat, the law is very clear.
As far as I'm concerned, I submitted a detailed table of income and expenses within the deadlines stipulated by the law. In fact, I allowed the surplus of 93,000 to our party.
Since no one can hide behind ambiguities and footnotes, seeking to divert attention from existing to non-existent issues, I call on the Audit Service to position itself immediately, with clarity and without formal evasions.
Let us remind you that in its report on pre-election expenses, the Audit Service found that Mavroyiannis and Christodoulidis had exceeded expenses, and acknowledged that Averof Neophytou later returned to DISY an amount that exceeded the amount of said expenses, "but these become illegal because they were carried out by a third party".