A plan to build two 20-storey towers along the coastline of Larnaca, on the site of the city’s former oil refineries, has triggered a heated political and environmental debate in Cyprus.

The Department of Environment recently issued a positive opinion on the proposed project, allowing the development to move ahead. However, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from the citizens’ movement Alma, which accuses the government of prioritizing party-aligned private interests over the public good. Alma points out that one of the directors of the developing company is a known member of the Democratic Rally’s (DISY) political bureau.

According to Alma, the towers would be built practically “on the waves,” with the developers proposing to artificially reclaim around 40 meters of sea to extend the land area, citing erosion of the original plot as justification. Critics argue that this approach contradicts international commitments, specifically the Barcelona Convention’s protocol on coastal zone management, which requires at least a 100-meter unbuilt coastal strip from the highest winter waterline. Alma has questioned whether even after land reclamation the project would comply with these obligations, stressing that Cyprus is bound by EU law to protect its coasts.

In response, the Democratic Rally party (DISY) issued a strongly worded statement, accusing Alma and former Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides of engaging in selective targeting for political gain. DISY rejected suggestions that it exercises control over the private business dealings of its members, emphasizing that urban planning and environmental assessments are strictly regulated by independent authorities. The party urged Mr. Michaelides to submit any evidence of wrongdoing to the competent institutions rather than fueling conspiracy theories in public.

DISY reaffirmed its support for sustainable development carried out within legal and environmental frameworks, and called for a measured, non-populist debate.