Cyprus MPs criticize 21 appointments outside council recommendations
In Cyprus, members of parliament on the parliamentary committee on institutions demanded explanations from the government over 21 appointments to the boards of semi-state organizations made outside the list of recommendations of the advisory council for candidate evaluation. Committee chair, DISY MP Demetris Demetriou, said that during the latest round, 73 of 94 positions were filled by people recommended by the council.
As Cyprus Mail reports, Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki said that the council's recommendations are advisory only and are not binding on the government. According to her, the decisions and justifications were published, while the International Monetary Fund will provide technical assistance to improve the governance of state structures.
Criticism of the government's explanations
AKEL MP Constantinos Constantinou said that the key issue was whether the government complied with the rules established by the cabinet of ministers. AKEL MP Anastasia Hasikou and Alma MP Irene Charalambidou criticized the lack of published explanations for appointments made outside the council's list. Charalambidou said that the government had fallen short of the standard it had set for itself.
After the meeting, Demetriou described such appointments as a subject of criticism due to insufficient justification. He suggested that the government could offer all 21 appointees the opportunity to submit applications for consideration by the advisory council. Constantinou also said that the government's obligation to explain departures from the recommendations had not been fulfilled.
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Role of the advisory council
Council chair Giorgos Aresti said that it evaluates candidates and that its decisions had always been unanimous, taking into account the integrity and relevant qualifications of applicants. According to him, in some cases the council recommended fewer than three people for a position if it considered other candidates unsuitable. Of its recommendations for chairpersons, only two candidates were not supported by the cabinet of ministers, while ten were approved.
Aresti confirmed that the council had known from the outset about the cabinet of ministers' right to depart from its recommendations. Piki noted that in the latest round, which covered 12 organizations, 1,282 people expressed interest in taking part — approximately 19% more than in the previous round.
Council member Eleni Mousala questioned the procedure at state broadcaster CyBC, saying that four people who had not submitted applications came there, while only one person who had applied did so. Piki replied that the council is not a personnel selection body and does not rank candidates, while final responsibility for appointments under the constitution lies with the cabinet of ministers.
