2m debt — 2m debt — The former mayor of Strovolos has firmly denied claims that he left the municipality burdened with €2 million in debt. Andreas Papacharalambous defended his actions on Thursday, amidst a growing public spat with the current municipal administration.
In a recent statement, the Strovolos municipality accused Papacharalambous of mishandling a significant debt owed by a private company. They allege that instead of reducing the debt, it has now escalated to €2.3 million, despite the negotiations initiated during his tenure.
The municipality pointed out that Papacharalambous made decisions regarding this debt without proper approval from the municipal council, implying that he acted unilaterally. The debt in question is linked to unpaid entertainment tax, and the accusations stem from a decision made around 2020, when the former mayor opted to temporarily waive part of the repayment.
In his defence, Papacharalambous explained that his choice to grant leniency was based on the company’s ongoing loan restructuring talks. He argued that insisting on immediate repayment could have driven the company to bankruptcy, resulting in a total loss of the owed amount for the municipality.
He reiterated that the company had not received any forgiveness on its debt, stating, “not even for a single cent”. Furthermore, he has accused the current administration of leaking sensitive documents to the media regarding this matter, which he views as an attempt to undermine his reputation.
As he navigates this controversy, Papacharalambous is also campaigning for a parliamentary seat with the Elam party. He suggested that the allegations against him are politically charged, aimed at diverting attention from more pressing societal issues. “The brutal distortion of truth and the attempt at misdirection from the real scandals of society amounts to a cheap political stunt,” he remarked, asserting that his political momentum will not be hindered by these claims.