THE EAGERLY AWAITED opposition proceedings in the case brought against auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides by attorney-general George Savvides were filed by the former’s team of big-shot lawyers, whose fees he must have taken out a big bank loan to cover. Their opposition to the procedure is based on two points: the application of the AG to the constitutional council, comprising of nine judges, is groundless and that the AG does not have the authority to seek the sacking of an independent state official. Apart from the legal arguments there is no shortage of emotional elements in the 72-page document filed, indicating that Odyssseas’ legal eagles have decided to stir public opinion against the AG and his deputy Savvas Angelides and turn the case into something of a popularity contest, in which there can only be one winner.
Public praise given to Odysseas by the president was cited, as were opinion polls which showed that the public, in its “overwhelming majority expressed confidence in the auditor-general and the audit office for the successful work they were doing.” Someone so popular could not have done anything wrong – it is a compelling legal argument, as is public, presidential praise. THE ODYSSEAS camp is not only relying on the popularity card which it hopes might influence the judges.
It is also applying pressure on Prezniktwo, the compulsive people-pleaser, to publicly side with their man. Last Sunday afternoon, the ‘auditor-general support group’ held.
