nepotism — Allegations of nepotism and unlawful voting practices have emerged from the Polis Chrysochous municipality, as Dervis Charalambous, the deputy mayor of Kritou Terra, lodged a formal complaint with the interior ministry and the auditor-general on Wednesday.
- He also claims that detailed voting minutes were not circulated, resulting in only the mayor’s announcement of a majority decision being communicated to the council members.
Charalambous asserts that recent appointments made by the municipal council included several employees, notably four who are the children of deputy mayors. He claims that these deputy mayors participated in the voting process despite a clear conflict of interest, raising serious questions about the legitimacy of the actions taken.
During a heated council session on Tuesday, Charalambous expressed his concerns, stating that the situation “raised matters of legality and moral order.” He had previously urged the municipality to delay ratifying the minutes from the contentious plenary session until his concerns were adequately addressed.
However, the council proceeded on Monday to ratify decisions involving the consolidation of hourly-paid workers, a move Charalambous views as problematic given the familial ties of some council members to the newly appointed staff.
“This amounts to criminal offences,” Charalambous remarked, explaining that he felt compelled to report the situation to state authorities. He emphasised, “I will not become an accomplice in these illegalities,” adding that he would abstain from future council meetings until the legality of the procedures is restored.
The crux of the dispute revolves around the employment status of seasonal workers, initially hired for general duties under a specific salary scale. A vote in February of last year determined whether these workers should remain in their posts or if new positions should be publicly advertised. The council was evenly split, with eight deputy mayors in favour of a new recruitment process and eight supporting the retention of existing staff. The deciding vote from the mayor allowed the workers to keep their positions.
Charalambous contends that the contracts of these workers were unlawfully extended beyond the stipulated nine-month period. He pointed out that a proposal made during a December meeting on the upcoming municipal budget sought to permanently appoint seasonal workers who had completed a full year of service, which he claims was made possible by this illegal contract extension.
This controversy intensified during the latest council meeting, where the permanent appointment of 17 seasonal workers was approved, despite some councillors leaving the chamber during the vote. Charalambous alleges that the four deputy mayors, whose children were among the appointees, continued to participate in the voting process.
He also claims that detailed voting minutes were not circulated, resulting in only the mayor’s announcement of a majority decision being communicated to the council members.
When asked whether it is permissible for deputy mayors or the mayor to employ their relatives, Charalambous stated that the issue transcends legal boundaries. “It is primarily an issue of decency and political ethics,” he said, underscoring that the law prohibits relatives from voting on matters directly affecting their family members.
Mayor Yiotis Papachristofi refrained from addressing the specifics of the allegations, stating he would not comment on the matter. He remarked, “Everyone has the right to react and do whatever they so wish,” insisting that no irregularities occurred in the recruitment process. He invited anyone with concerns to submit a formal complaint.
The allegations have now been formally submitted to the interior ministry and the auditor-general, Andreas Papaconstantinou, who will assess whether any conflicts of interest or procedural violations took place during the council’s decisions regarding municipal hiring.
