**Advisory Council Faces Criticism Over Appointment Procedures for Semi-State Boards**
The Advisory Council's operations have come under intense scrutiny following allegations from the left-wing political party Akel that the council has been bypassed in the appointment processes for boards of semi-state organizations. This controversy was highlighted during a session of the Institutions Committee, chaired by Disy MP Demetris Demetriou, who noted that concerns had been raised particularly in light of recent events at the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (Cyta).
Akel has claimed that several individuals were appointed to semi-state boards without having submitted applications to the Advisory Council, suggesting that this practice undermines the council's role and effectively renders it a mere formality in the appointment process. The party has called for explanations from President Nikos Christodoulides and members of the Advisory Council, asserting that if these allegations are substantiated, those responsible should resign to avoid bearing “full political and institutional responsibility” for discrediting the institution.
The controversy intensified with the government's recent decision to replace a newly appointed member of Cyta’s board of directors due to concerns regarding a potential conflict of interest. Deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou announced that the replacement decision was made “in the spirit of good governance” after it was revealed that the appointee, Loizos Economides, had not disclosed his relationship with the authority during the selection process. Economides, a retired senior executive at Cyta, has a wife who is still employed by the organization, raising questions about the appropriateness of his appointment.
The Cyta employees' union, Aset, vocally opposed Economides' appointment, arguing that it constituted a "blatant case of conflict of interest and institutional incompatibility." They also expressed concerns about whether the Advisory Council had adequately assessed the situation before making its recommendations to the cabinet.
Akel has pointed to the Cyta incident as part of a broader pattern of issues regarding the government's approach to appointments. The party contends that the current process undermines merit-based selection, arguing that semi-state organizations should not serve as venues for political patronage. They emphasized the need for independent administrations that are committed to their public roles rather than being influenced by political expediency.
The cabinet recently appointed approximately 85 members to new boards for 11 semi-state organizations and public bodies, including the electricity authority (EAC), Cyta, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC), and the University of Cyprus. Notable appointments included veteran journalist Pavlos Pavlou as chair of CyBC and the reappointment of Maria Tsiakka as chairwoman of Cyta.
As the situation unfolds, the Advisory Council's role in the appointment process remains a focal point of discussion, with calls for transparency and accountability in the selection of individuals for positions within semi-state organizations. The ongoing debate highlights the tensions between political interests and the integrity of public institutions in Cyprus.