Apostolos Tomaras
The majority of the Polis Chrysochous municipal council is facing mounting pressure from the Interior Ministry, and potentially the courts, following allegations that officials attempted to quietly secure permanent positions for 17 seasonal workers through questionable procedures.
The council represents the Municipality of Polis Chrysochous along with the communities of Agia Marina, Androlikou, Argaka, Gialia, Drouseia, Kritou Tera, Makounta, Neo Chorio (Paphos), Nea Dimmata, Pelathousa, Pomos, Tera and Chrysochou.
At the center of the controversy is what has been described as an attempt to “bring in through the back door” and permanently employ 17 hourly-paid seasonal general-duties workers.
According to a formal complaint submitted to the Interior Ministry by Deputy Mayor Charalambos Dervis, the mayor and several council members allegedly bypassed provisions of the legal framework in an effort to legitimize the workers’ employment. Although the employees had originally been hired for nine months, they were reportedly allowed to remain in their posts for 12 months, effectively creating the conditions for their de facto permanent employment.
A second, more serious issue raising suspicions of potential wrongdoing concerns family ties. Some of the 17 workers are reportedly related to members of the municipal council, including deputy mayors who were present during the meeting where the decision to regularize the workers was taken.
In his complaint letter, Dervis claims the council members in question refused to recuse themselves from the session despite their familial connections to three of the workers under consideration.
The Interior Ministry, in an official statement, said this constitutes a violation of the principle of impartiality, stressing that an administrative body cannot participate in decision-making when a special relationship, either by blood or marriage, exists.
“The three members should have withdrawn from the meeting,” the ministry noted, adding that any decision taken under those circumstances would later have to be assessed for legality. The ministry concluded that the decision was “clearly unlawful” due to the composition of the body at the time it was made.
Decision reversed amid backlash
Following strong reactions and amid fears of intervention by the Interior Ministry, the municipal council moved to revoke its decision to grant permanent status to the 17 workers.
Before formally cancelling the decision, the council had already re-advertised the 17 positions and proceeded to announce an additional nine temporary seasonal posts.
Growing questions over municipal governance
The incident has intensified concerns and raised broader questions about how the municipality operates and about what critics describe as unusual decision-making practices within the council.
One frequently cited example involves the Israeli-owned Leonardo Club Latsi hotel. Despite confirmed violations of planning regulations, including construction works carried out without the necessary permits being secured in time, the municipal authority was accused of showing unexpected tolerance.
During discussions over a new planning permit application, the municipality’s representative at the Paphos District Local Government Organization reportedly clashed with another member who argued the permit should not be approved because irregularities had already been identified.
The unfolding controversy has now placed the municipality under increased scrutiny, with calls growing for greater transparency and accountability in local decision-making.
