Former Akel MP Irene Charalambides officially announced her collaboration with Alma movement, the party of former auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides, ahead of the May 24 parliamentary elections, waving the banner of the fight against corruption, which she described as an additional tax the people pay so that the corrupt can relish the spoils.

Speaking at a press conference, Charalambides said she had cooperated with Michaelides for a long time regarding accountability in combatting corruption.

“Alma is an acronym for dignity, accountability, reform and development. These four words are not a slogan. They are preconditions for our country to stand tall once again,” Charalambides said.

She added that her collaboration with Michaelides was based on the conviction that today more than ever it was necessary to join forces.

“Our common aim is crystal clear: to combat corruption and restore faith in the institutions. But for this to happen, decisive reforms are necessary, the king of reforms that restrict the authority of the executive power, as it is implemented today,” Charalambides said.

Charalambides clarified that she was referring to the appointments of state officers, particularly that of the attorney-general.

Referring to their priorities, Charalambides outlined combatting corruption, constitutional and other reforms, separating authorities, strengthening justice, equality, dignity of the people and restoring the sense of justice.

“It is unthinkable that in a modern society there are officers who are not accountable and have absolute and unchecked powers, resulting in the functioning of the state depending on the moral or political relationship, or even the collusion, between government or political party factors or the result of political exchanges,” she pointed out.

“Let us not forget that corruption is not just a blow to the people’s dignity and equality. It has a cost. A cost of billions that the people pay, everyday people, and those who stand to gain are the corrupt. Corruption is an additional tax the corrupt impose on the people,” she said.

Charalambides characterised herself as “not a person of promises, but of action”.

She explained that Alma amended its statutes earlier this week to allow candidates to participate without becoming party members, a change she requested due to her long political path outside formal party structures.

“I will be one of the candidates, but I will not become a member of Alma,” she insisted.

“I have not had a party identity for the last 40 years and Alma respected this position.”

Charalambides described her relationship with Michaelides as an alliance built around accountability and anti-corruption efforts.

“For 13 years we have been comrades in the trenches,” she said.

She also confirmed that while she supports Michaelides politically, discussions about a possible presidential bid were premature.

“I would like to see Odysseas Michaelides as president, but it is too early and even dangerous to have such discussions now.”

Michaelides described her participation as a “political choice of responsibility and perspective”, saying her presence on the ballot strengthens the movement’s effort to build “a strong, clear and effective voice in parliament”.

During the press conference Charalambides also addressed her departure from Akel, saying she did not leave voluntarily.

“It is Akel who expelled me,” she said, adding that voters supported her in previous elections because she remained “on the front line, documenting cases and fighting battles”.

On foreign policy, she warned that regional tensions risk destabilising the region and affecting Cyprus.

 She said decisions by the United Kingdom to use its bases on the island for military operations inevitably impact the island and require transparency and coordination to protect civilians.

Charalambides further stressed that Cyprus must avoid becoming “collateral damage” from strategic decisions taken by other states.

Michaelides himself welcomed the robust assistance Greece and fellow member states.

He cautioned though that there should have been an activation of article 42/7 of the Lisbon treaty for institutional support of European states in Cyprus and not “spontaneously at a bilateral level”.

Michaelides also remarked that the recent drone activity in regard to the British bases “proved the nakedness of the Cypriot state and is a symptom of its incompetence and corruption“.