Vlittis ignores council calls to step down

BELEAGURED Paralimni Mayor Nikos Vlittis is refusing to quit despite eight members of his municipal council demanding he step down.

Vlittis said yesterday that his it was not the Municipal Council’s decision to make, adding: “The people of Paralimni elected me as Mayor, not the Municipal Council.”
Vlittis said yesterday that the government had an ulterior motive for its attempts to remove him from his position as mayor. “People in high places who wanted me to fix illegal actions, their illegal actions, now want me to resign because I did not do as they asked. I am not disclosing any names. They know who they are,” he said.

The Municipal Council members claim they can no longer work beside Vlittis and are concerned that his presence at the municipality could arouse suspicion by authorities as to whether he would tamper with files. Vlittis said that all files and records had been given to the Auditor General.

After receiving the Auditor General’s 27-page report yesterday the police have now began conducting investigations into abuse of power allegations against Vlittis. Auditor General Chrystala Giorgatzi refused to comment on her findings and report. “I have met with Nikos Vlittis on two separate occasions when we discussed all the matters that are in my report. In addition we have also spoken on the phone. The allegations will now be investigated by the police,” Giorgatzi said.

The matter of whether or not the Municipal Council was involved in criminal activity is also under review. Vlittis has said that he hopes the Cabinet and those in charge will act diplomatically and democratically. “The report by the Auditor General was given to the Attorney General and all relevant information is there. Any files that were requested were given forth to the Auditor General, so a fair and thorough conclusion could be reached,” said Vlittis.

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