The Ministry of Interior has called on all Municipal and Community Councils to follow the general principles of Administrative Law when conducting meetings and making decisions.
Investigation into council hiring
Antonis Oikonomidis, Director of Local Government at the Ministry, confirmed that officials will request records and minutes from Pοli Chrysochous Municipality to assess whether improper actions occurred. The review focuses on the hiring of relatives of deputy mayors, following a complaint by Dervis Charalambous, Deputy Mayor of Kritou Terra.
Allegations of irregularities
Charalambous reported that during a council session approving the permanent employment of hourly-paid staff with close ties to deputy mayors, he was asked to leave the meeting. He refused, but the session continued, raising concerns about impartiality.
Oikonomidis explained that under Administrative Law, council members with close familial ties should abstain from decisions. Allowing them to participate renders the decision potentially illegal. He also noted a pattern where staff initially hired for nine months were allowed to complete twelve, automatically becoming permanent without proper procedure – a practice observed in other local authorities as well.
Ministry oversight powers
The Ministry may now exercise supervisory authority under Article 117 of the Local Government Reform, reviewing the legality of council decisions. Following the investigation, the Minister can request the council to correct or revoke decisions. If the council refuses, the Ministry can annul the full or partial decision.
Next steps
Oikonomidis stated that the Ministry will collect the relevant council documents and procedures to determine whether further action is necessary. Charalambous stressed that he acted to prevent potential criminal offences and will not participate in future council meetings until legal compliance is restored.
Also read: Paphos municipality continues operations normally
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