Hunters party accuse Neophytou of bribery

The Hunters party on Monday accused presidential candidate Averof Neophytou outright of having tried to bribe them in exchange for their backing in the upcoming presidential elections.

The movement – which is a registered as a political party but does not currently hold a seat in parliament – fired a series of questions at Neophytou, demanding that he come clean on two meetings he had with them last year.

At those two meetings – the first in April, the second in September – Neophytou allegedly dangled to the Hunters the promise that, once elected president, he’d work to ensure they receive the full state grant they were eligible for as a political party. In return, he wanted their support in the elections.

Giving their allegations an added punch, the Hunters claim that present at both those meetings was a “senior government official” acting as liaison for Neophytou.

The Hunters released the stinging statement, challenging Neophytou to deny or confirm their accusations, because earlier Disy had tried to deflect from the issue. Disy had put out a statement dismissing this as a smear campaign orchestrated by the parties behind independent candidate Nikos Christodoulides.

“You should answer us directly, without involving other parties,” the Hunters said.

They went on to provide a blow-by-blow account of what had allegedly transpired.

According to the Hunters, on April 4, 2022 a meeting was held at Pindarou Street (Disy HQ), arranged by a “high-ranking member” of the government. The matter of discussion was the possible support of the Hunters for Neophytou, or else that the Hunters would contest the elections with their own candidate – who would presumably then swing to the Neophytou camp. In exchange, the Disy boss would “help” with the matter of the state grant.

“You [i.e. Neophytou] did not accept any other matter to be discussed at the meeting.”

Later, the cabinet green-lit a small portion of the state grant to be given to the Hunters, via funds included in one of the government’s supplementary budgets for 2022.

On this, the Hunters asked pointedly why the cabinet did not give the nod to the entire sum of the state grant in January of 2022, only agreeing to disburse “a negligible amount” following the meeting at Disy HQ.

It’s understood the full amount the Hunters would be eligible for was €300,000. They had long argued that they were entitled to this state grant, being registered as a political party.

According to the Hunters, in early September Neophytou sought – and got – another meeting with their chairman in a hotel in Ayia Napa. Again, the alleged senior government official was present, “representing Mr Neophytou”.

“In your [i.e. Neophytou’s] presence, did this third person not ask us to ‘shake on it’, that we would contest the elections on our own since part of the state grant had been arranged by you?”

They went on: “At the end of the meeting, did you not mention that, in the event you were elected, you would proceed to implement the law normally, given that we had been unfairly deprived of the grant, if we put forth our own candidate?”

Essentially the Hunters claim that Neophytou wanted to corral them and ensure their support for him, on the pledge he would release the entire amount of the state grant once he became president.

Weighing in on this alleged wheeler-dealing, the Diko party on Monday spoke of a “major issue of political ethics which the relevant authorities should investigate”.

They likewise demanded that Neophytou cease his “evasions” and answer the Hunters’ questions directly.