Polis Chrysochous, Cyprus. The interior minister has requested detailed information from the Polis Chrysochous municipality following complaints of illegal permanent appointments and alleged nepotism involving elected officials.
Request for explanations and legal basis
In a written statement, the interior ministry said it had asked the mayor and municipal council members to submit explanations without delay so an investigation can be carried out under article 117 of the municipalities law.
Allegations of unlawful permanent appointments
The probe concerns allegations that 17 workers were unlawfully appointed to permanent posts.
Complaint filed by deputy mayor
The complaint was filed by Kritou Terra deputy mayor Dervis Charalambous, who claims the appointments included the children of four deputy mayors and that those deputy mayors participated in council votes despite having a direct conflict of interest.
Possible outcomes
Depending on the findings, the interior minister may request the revocation of decisions or proceed to cancel them.
Warnings and assessment by ministry officials
Interior ministry permanent secretary Elikkos Elia warned that all municipal and village councils are required to act in line with administrative law.
The ministry’s local governance head, Antonis Economides, described the allegations as “very serious” and confirmed that a formal complaint had been received last month.
Economides said deputy mayors with conflicts of interest were legally obliged to leave the meeting during which recruitment was discussed, adding that decisions taken in their presence must be examined for legality. He said, “In this case, the decision was clearly illegal due to the composition of the body at the time.”
Contract duration claims
Economides also referred to claims that workers initially hired on nine-month contracts were allowed to work for 12 months before being made permanent, contrary to procedure.
What do you think should happen if the investigation confirms the appointments were made illegally?
