The Supreme Court ruling on Sofia Michaelides’ appointment confirms DISY humiliates meritocracy

 

Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Giorgos Koukoumas

6 March 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The Supreme Court has confirmed that the appointment of the Director of the Press and Information Office Sophie Michaelidou is void/illegal and manifestly violates meritocracy. What we all know has yet again been confirmed: a full-time official of the ruling DISY party was appointed to a crucial and sensitive post responsible for informing citizens, with glaring favouritism/clientelism and injustices committed to other, objectively more qualified, candidates for the post. In other words, the government ruling forces are setting the state machine under their control and in the process trampling over processes, institutions and people.

For a long time now, of course, no one is shocked and surprised. For example, we recall the cases of Rikkos Erotokritou to Giannakis. With the cases of nieces and assistants employed in the Presidential Office being given permanent public servant status to the Shialos case in the Cyprus Sports Organisation (KOA) and the latest promotions in the Police force, the ruling DISY party is humiliating the rule of law and that all people are equal. Now that the government ruling forces are struggling to hold on to power, they certainly will leave no institution and no trace of meritocracy intact.

There isn’t much left to say. This ethos and example of governance, this organised looting of the state must go from power.