The political fallout from the “Videogate” saga continues to deepen, with a new nationwide poll showing a sharp decline in public confidence in President Nikos Christodoulides, while Parliament intensifies scrutiny over the financing and future of the Independent Social Support Fund.

According to a survey conducted by RAI Consultants on behalf of Alpha TV, 58% of respondents believe the President’s image was very negatively affected following the leak of the controversial video involving the former Director of the Presidential Office and two other individuals discussing contacts with alleged investors. A further 19% said the impact was slightly negative, while only 11% believe the President was not affected at all.

The video appears to have reached an exceptionally wide audience, with 71% of respondents saying they watched it, across all age groups and regions. The executive chairman of RAI Consultants, Olympios Toumazos, noted that negative perceptions were recorded across all demographic categories, including among voters who previously supported the President.

Public reaction to the video was overwhelmingly negative. 37% said they felt disappointment and shame, while 13% associated the case with corruption and illegal practices. Another 12% expressed anger and outrage, and 9% said they lost trust in the political system altogether, believing that “all politicians are the same”.

Only 13% questioned the authenticity of the video, while just 4% described it as a setup, indicating limited public acceptance of the official line.

As public discontent grows, parliamentary oversight has intensified. The President of the House Institutions Committee, MP Dimitris Dimitriou, formally requested full disclosure of the named donors to the Independent Social Support Fund from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2025.

Responding to the request, Auditor General Andreas Antoniades, who serves as the agency’s treasurer, confirmed his readiness to submit the data, provided the Legal Service approves safeguards to protect personal data. He stressed that there is no intention to conceal information, with donor lists to be transmitted in a classified manner to prevent leaks.

Lawmakers are seeking clarity on two key issues linked to the Videogate revelations:

1. Whether donations were linked to political favours, including allegations that contributors could bypass bureaucratic procedures or secure presidential goodwill by donating specifically to the agency chaired until recently by the First Lady.

2. Potential conflicts of interest, following findings by the Audit Office that some donors — in cases contributing up to €600,000 — held or were seeking state contracts at the time of their donations.

In a November 2025 report, the Audit Office warned that the lack of transparency surrounding the fund creates conditions for public mistrust, particularly given the institutional link between the agency and the Presidency.

The resignation of Philippa Karsera from the Fund’s management committee, combined with presidential statements suggesting its possible abolition, has eased public pressure only marginally.

Under current law, the Council of Ministers must now decide whether to dissolve the agency or appoint a new chairperson of recognised integrity. Any dissolution, however, cannot be immediate, as approximately 1,800 student aid applications remain pending.

Most political parties now argue that the fund has outlived its original purpose, proposing that responsibility for supporting financially vulnerable students should return to state institutions such as the Cyprus State Scholarships Foundation.

In response to mounting criticism, the Fund’s management committee has adopted a recommendation from the Auditor General requiring mandatory publication of donor names for contributions exceeding €20,000 per year. The measure takes effect from 5 January 2026, with donations above the threshold accepted only if written consent for disclosure is provided.

Adding to the controversy, Fact Check Cyprus ruled as inaccurate government claims that President Christodoulides had no contact with businessman George Chrysochos after the 2023 elections. Official government records confirm that Chrysokhos attended a formal energy-sector meeting at the Presidential Palace in July 2024, contradicting public statements by a government spokesperson.

President Nikos Christodoulides has stated that investigations are ongoing, with Cypriot authorities working alongside foreign partners to examine the origins and content of the video.

Former President Nikos Anastasiades urged restraint, warning against political exploitation of the crisis while confirming that a criminal investigator has been appointed. He acknowledged the seriousness of the issue but emphasised respect for due process and the presumption of innocence.

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