**Government Defends Advisory Council Amid Appointments Controversy**
The Cypriot government is standing by the advisory council responsible for overseeing appointments to semi-government organizations, following mounting criticism regarding the selection process. Deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou described the ongoing attacks on the council as "unfair," emphasizing that the body was established to enhance transparency and merit in public appointments.
Antoniou acknowledged that while the new system has encountered "problems" and "weaknesses," it represents a significant shift from previous practices where appointments were often influenced by political affiliations. "We are no longer operating under a system where the party origin of each person dictated their appointment," he stated during an interview on CyBC.
The controversy gained traction after the left-wing party Akel accused the advisory council of being sidelined in the recent appointments to semi-government boards. The party has called for a public explanation of the process, particularly in light of allegations that some individuals appointed to these boards did not submit applications to the advisory council.
The issue has been formally raised with the House institutions committee, with chairman and Disy MP Demetris Demetriou highlighting concerns related to the appointment of individuals without proper applications. This controversy is particularly focused on the recent appointment of Loizos Economides to the board of Cyta, a semi-government telecommunications organization. Economides, a retired senior executive of Cyta, faced scrutiny due to a potential conflict of interest, as his wife is still employed by the organization.
The company workers' union, Aset, has pointed out that Economides has held multiple roles within Cyta, including serving on the management committee of the staff pension and benefits fund and being a vice president of the staff union. In light of these concerns, the government decided to replace Economides, a move Antoniou framed as being made "in the spirit of good governance." He noted that Economides' relationship with Cyta had not been disclosed during the appointment process, leading to the identification of a potential conflict of interest.
Aset criticized the appointment as a "blatant case of conflict of interest and institutional incompatibility," raising questions about whether the advisory council had adequately scrutinized the matter before making its recommendations. In response to the criticism, George Aresti, chairman of the advisory council, defended the body, clarifying that its role is strictly advisory. He explained that while the council provides recommendations to relevant ministries, it does not have the authority to make appointments or influence final decisions.
On Thursday, the cabinet appointed approximately 85 members to the boards of 11 semi-state organizations and public bodies, including the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), Cyta, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC), the Cyprus Theatre Organization (Thok), the University of Cyprus, and the Cyprus University of Technology (Tepak). Notable appointments included Pavlos Pavlou as chairman of CyBC, Maria Tsiakka as reappointed chairwoman of Cyta, and Loizos Loizou as chairman of the EAC.
As the debate continues, the government remains committed to the new appointment system, asserting that it aims to provide opportunities for individuals from diverse political backgrounds to participate in public service. However, the challenges and criticisms surrounding the advisory council and its role in the appointment process highlight the ongoing tensions in Cypriot politics regarding transparency and governance.