THE CASE of nepotism at the agriculture ministry, in connection with which two senior ministry officials face charges, is fast turning into farce. The minister Michalis Polynikis, who was at the centre of the original allegations – he was accused of practising nepotism in Paphos by an official, whose transfer he had ordered – set the ball rolling a week ago, with a long long-winded statement claiming the Attorney-general’s decision to prosecute the two officials had exonerated him.
He is entitled to his interpretation, even though many have expressed doubts that the two suspects could have been issuing instructions, about who should be hired, on their own initiative – one of them was the director of the minister’s office. Bureaucrats do not usually take such initiatives without strong political backing from somewhere. We must mention that the case has not been heard, and the court could find the two officials, both of whom denied the charges, ‘not guilty’ of any offence.
However, the head of the civil servants union, Glafcos Hadjipetrou has decided that the two officials were innocent and were covering up for Polynikis on whose instructions they were acting.
“The facts speak for themselves and there is no Cypriot who does not realise what happened,” he said on Thursday, urging the two suspects not to take the fall for Polynikis. “I call on our two colleagues to consider their careers, their families and their dignity and to co-operate with the authorities so that the whole truth can come out and responsibility attributed where it must be.”
Hadjipetrou may be a powerful man, but he should have known that not even the bosses of a mighty union have the authority to interfere in the course of justice; at least not yet. Not only had he decided who the guilty party was, but he has also been blatantly trying to influence the suspects. Will the Attorney-general bring charges against him or are union bosses above the law?
EDEK, which has been closely following the case because Polynikis is a party member, was convinced that Hadjipetrou was “scandalously intervening in the course of justice, in breach of all ethics”, in an effort to victimise the minister. At least EDEK has been consistent. It has defended Polynikis ever since the nepotism allegations were made against him, insisting that he had done nothing wrong. As everyone knows, socialists never practise nepotism. But they may practise favouritism as the decision of the minister not to suspend the two officials, who are facing criminal charges, would suggest.
The only sensible thing about this case was said by DISY deputy Christos Stylianides. He urged Polynikis to resign, but we doubt his advice would be heeded.
