The government will replace a newly appointed member of Cyta’s Board of Directors following objections over a possible conflict of interest.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Yiannis Antoniou said the appointee had not disclosed his ties to the semi-governmental organisation during the appointment process.
Government confirms replacement
Speaking on SPOR FM’s Diaspora Eidiseon programme, Antoniou said the decision was taken in the interests of good governance and that another person would be appointed to the board.
According to Antoniou, the relationship between the appointee and Cyta appeared to create a conflict of interest.
The unnamed appointee previously worked at Cyta as a senior executive and retired several years ago. His wife remains employed by the organisation.
Union raised three objections
Cyta’s Independent Telecommunications Employees’ Union, ASET-Cyta, had called on President Nikos Christodoulides to revoke the appointment immediately, citing three grounds of incompatibility:
- The appointee’s wife works at Cyta as secretary to a senior executive. The union said this constitutes a first-degree family relationship and is expressly prohibited under Law 149/1988, section 3B(1).
- He is an elected member of the Management Committee of the employees’ Pension and Benefits Fund, which has direct links with Cyta.
- At the time of his application, he was vice-president of an employees’ trade union and a member of its negotiating team.
