Pollster Nasios Oreinos, speaking on “Protoselido,” placed the leaked video scandal within a wider political and institutional framework.
He began with a fundamental acknowledgment: Cyprus’s political parties, despite serious pathologies, have historically contributed immensely to the country. Without them, Cyprus would not belong to the European Union, manage crises like the pandemic, or establish core state structures such as the National Health System GESY. Oreinos stressed this does not negate criticism but counters blanket party condemnation that ignores reality.
Widespread distrust fuels video impact
Oreinos linked the controversial leaked video to a profound horizontal trust crisis permeating the political system. Polling data reveals citizens distrust the government, President, opposition, Parliament, parties, and institutions generally.
“Right now in Cyprus, we trust no one,” he stated starkly. The leaked video scandal serves as a catalyst exacerbating this pre-existing crisis, though Oreinos ruled out premature political condemnation of individuals or firm conclusions from the video’s content.
Politically, “some things have changed” since 8 January, irrespective of criminal or legal outcomes. Corruption now tops public concerns in both parliamentary and upcoming presidential elections, overtaking or equalling economy and Cyprus issue priorities. Oreinos foresaw this confronting the incumbent President directly, with opponents exploiting it as a key weapon.
Presidential ratings face decline
Polls show the President’s image deteriorating or stagnating at best, with dissatisfaction nearing 75% of the electorate, difficult to reverse. Oreinos dismissed arguments blaming lack of major party support, noting the President’s conscious choice to run independently. Pre-election positive ratings without party backing prove “something happened or something was not done right” during governance.
Central to his analysis stood unfulfilled pre-election pledges. Surveys indicate 70% of citizens believe the President failed key promises, undermining credibility. He cited the Cabinet’s gender imbalance, far from pledged parity, as emblematic, alongside nepotism and family favoritism debates. Voters expected meritocracy but encountered a different reality.
Co-governing parties share blame
Oreinos held the three government-supporting parties accountable as co-governors, not mere participants, facing visible poll damage. Punitive votes will target rulers over opposition.
He analysed rising new formations: Odysseas Michailidis offers institutional anti-corruption positions, while Phidias Panagiotou’s Amesi Dimokratia party employs satire and ridicule without concrete proposals. Both erode centrist and coalition parties’ support.
The political scene grows fluid, complicating pollsters’ work amid rising abstentions, punitive and ironic votes, plus hidden trends. Upcoming polls will clearer reflect videogate-driven agenda and balance shifts.
Academic predicts broader fallout
Academic Giannos Katsourides noted tones easing one week post-video release. The anonymous video alleged “black funds,” official-business contacts, and opaque campaign financing for President Nikos Christodoulides. Short-term focus stays Presidential, but long-term, past patterns show wider impact on traditional formations.
Katsourides interpreted the President’s electoral results remark as risking cumulative shadow over politics, parties, and government ahead of parliamentary polls – fertile ground for new groups, though not inevitable. Previous Cyprus scandals left marks on implicated parties plus systemic residue.
Reactions remain normal so far, raising institutional functionality, crisis management, and election issues. Presidential handling showed initial inertia costing ground; later resignations by Charalambous and First Lady eased tensions.
The video harms Cyprus’s improved international image – if bad practices return, damage deepens. It enters parliamentary elections equation but diluted without direct Presidential judgment.
Analyst draws Al Jazeera parallels
Political analyst Michalis Sofokleous highlighted common threads with Al Jazeera video: both project third-world image of hidden power-investment deals needed for business.
Key differences: Al Jazeera’s organised global probe versus anonymous X account source; this video directly implicates Presidency.
Sofokleous critiqued the President’s party warning statement as poor practice. Democracy requires transparency above all.
Source: Philenews
Also read: Cyprus Treasury publishes salaries of all state officials
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