Paphos, Cyprus. Paphos municipality on Monday appointed Anastasia Routi-Eleftheriadi as interim municipal secretary as the town’s council returned to work following the suspension of mayor Phedonas Phedonos last week.
Interim appointment and council vote
Routi-Eleftheriadi was nominated by acting mayor Angelos Onisiforou and received 11 council votes. Ten councillors voted for the position to be filled on a rotating basis until a permanent replacement for the retiring Themis Philippides is found, while two voted for the municipality’s financial department director Constantinos Christoforou.
Interior ministry concerns and investigation
The vote followed a report by local news website PafosNet that the interior ministry is concerned that 72-year-old Philippides continued to perform his duties after being placed on pre-retirement leave last year. The interior ministry’s director of local government affairs, Antonis Economides, said on Friday that Philippides should have been removed from his duties two weeks earlier and taken his leave cumulatively.
Economides said the ministry should investigate whether, during that two-week period, Philippides went to his office at the municipal building, performed the duties of municipal secretary when he should not have, and signed any documents. He said any documents Philippides may have signed during that period would be considered invalid.
Background to the investigation and mayor’s suspension
The investigation follows a January letter from Phedonos to the interior ministry requesting that Philippides be allowed to remain in post for some more time. Phedonos was formally removed from his role on Thursday last week after being accused of domestic abuse and rape.
His suspension will end either when legal proceedings regarding the allegations have concluded. If he then returns to his duties, he will be entitled to the full amount of the salaries he lost during his suspension.
What do you think the interior ministry’s investigation could mean for municipal decisions taken during the two-week period in question?
