The Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus has unanimously ruled that a transparency law passed in September 2024, which mandated the publication of major donors to the Independent Social Support Body, is unconstitutional. The fund—managed by Philippa Karsera Christodoulides—offers financial assistance to students through private donations and has faced mounting scrutiny over allegations of favoritism and political influence.

The ruling, issued today, found that the legislation violated key constitutional protections concerning personal data and the right to private life. The judges concluded that requiring the publication of the names of individuals or entities donating more than €5,000 to the fund constituted a disproportionate infringement of privacy. The court also criticized Parliament for failing to justify the necessity of such a measure or assess its proportionality adequately.

The transparency law was introduced in response to rising public calls for oversight. It aimed to prevent the possible misuse of the fund for electoral gain and to ensure impartial allocation of student aid. The bill proposed publishing donor names on the fund’s website, in line with transparency rules already applied to political parties. However, President Nikos Christodoulides refused to sign the bill into law and referred it to the Supreme Constitutional Court—a move that sparked further political controversy.

The case had heightened tensions between the executive and legislative branches. MPs from DISY and AKEL had expressed concerns over the lack of transparency in the fund’s operations, especially given the First Lady's direct involvement. Lawmakers had argued that withholding donor identities may enable undue influence in the allocation of scholarships and open the door to preferential treatment.

Government credibility had also come under fire following conflicting claims. While the administration had suggested that donor information is submitted to Parliament, DISY MP Demetris Demetriou and AKEL MP Irini Charalambidou confirmed that the only documents received include student initials, without any reference to donors.

In 2023, the Independent Social Support Body reportedly raised €2.2 million in private contributions, prompting further questions about governance and accountability.

With the President rejecting the law and the court confirming its unconstitutionality, Parliament now lacks a clear legal pathway to implement oversight, despite persistent concerns raised by MPs and civil society organizations.