CYPRUS
The President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades (pictured) has called for an end to the “tyranny of the Civil Service kingdoms” and urged Parliament to pass a package of reform bills as quickly as possible.
He made his comments at the opening of the Sculpture Museum created by Limassol-based artist Filippos Yiapanis, a strong critic of what he called the “red tape and indifference” he had to overcome from the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Mr Anastasiades said Mr Yiapanis’s criticism was sending a strong message to the Government and he agreed with Mr Yiapanis’s comments because he shared the same attitudes.
“I wish and hope that, in consultation with the political powers, it will be finally made possible for the Bills on modernising the Civil Service that are before the House to be adopted to stop the tyranny that the Civil Service kingdoms are exerting over the citizens,” Mr Anastasiades said.
A series of Government Bills aiming to reform the Public Service were rejected by MPs in 2016.
The Government then launched a new round of consultations with political parties to garner more support.
The Bills seek to end “clientelism” and introduce changes that reward performance and increase productivity and efficiency in the Public Service.
However, Opposition MP Christos Christofides said that Mr Anastasiades was speaking as if he were not the person who had been governing the country for the past six years.
He said Mr Anastasiades and his administration bore responsibility for the existing weaknesses and shortcomings in the Public Service.
“He believes all problems will be solved by the proposed reform Bills, but he is out of touch with reality,” Mr Christofides said.
Nicosia, 7 October 2018
