Forrmer auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides, who was removed from office by a Supreme Constitutional Court ruling last September, on Friday announced that he would form a “new political movement” on Monday.

In a social media post, he announced that he would “address a call to support the citizens of Cyprus with the announcement of a new political movement” on Monday at his office in Nicosia.

The announcement comes just over a year ahead of Cyprus’ next parliamentary elections, and a little over two and a half years ahead of the next presidential election, with many believing that Michaelides will run for president.

Asked about the possibility of running for president last month, he said that “if you want to contribute to society, you must enter the battle”.

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Michaelides was relieved of his duties  as auditor-general by the Supreme Constitutional in September, with an eight-judge panel unanimously ruling that he had conducted himself inappropriately, and that he was thus unfit to carry out the office’s duties.

The court’s verdict was 209 pages long and scathing, with Michaelides having been found to have repeatedly sought to undermine Savvides’ legal opinions, often writing his own interpretations which contradicted those of Attorney-General George Savvides.

It was written in the decision that Michaelides “did not limit himself to the role of the whistleblower to the independent anti-corruption authority but reserved for himself the role of a judge after proceeding to draw conclusions on his statements and submissions.”

Additionally, the court referred to “obscene content” which occurred on a social media page dedicated to supporting Michaelides, saying that although the page did not belong to Michaelides, “it bore his name and photograph”.

Michaelides himself had said the decision “essentially abolishes the audit service and democracy”, adding that it “puts a corset, a gag, on the audit office.”

“It is a black day for Cyprus and a black day for our service,” he said.

Savvides had in turn warned those decrying the decision to read it before passing judgment.

“A court order has been issued and I just want to emphasise that it is important to support the [Republic’s] institutions, and to show the required respect to the Supreme Constitutional Court. Woe betide us if we lose faith in the courts,” he said.

In the intervening eight months, speculation has arisen regarding Michaelides’ political ambitions, with the opening of an office with a view of the presidential palace in Nicosia seen by some as a move symbolic of his future political ambitions.