Staff at Cyprus' House of Representatives have expressed strong dissatisfaction and concern over the conduct of certain MPs, both in their day-to-day dealings within parliament and through public statements and social media posts.
In a letter addressed to Annita Demetriou, obtained by Politis, employees complain of behaviour and public comments that they say demean staff, belittle their work and collectively assign blame and negative labels without regard for their institutional role or the demanding conditions under which they work.
The complaint was submitted through the PASYDY civil servants' union and circulated to party leaders.
Although the letter does not explicitly refer to a specific incident, it is understood that the reaction may have been prompted by the recent controversy surrounding MPs' asset declarations, during which information relating to spouses and minor children was mistakenly made public.
According to staff, such behaviour undermines both their professional and personal dignity, creates a climate of frustration and insecurity, and damages the working relationship between MPs and parliamentary employees.
Criticism is not the same as disparagement
The staff acknowledge that MPs have the right to criticise, express concerns and seek explanations regarding the functioning of parliament.
However, they stress that criticism must be distinguished from personal attacks on employees and should respect their dignity and professional standing.
"The public expression of disagreement should not become a means of targeting staff, assigning exclusive responsibility or undermining the personnel of the House," the letter states.
The employees also emphasise that they carry out their duties with professionalism, responsibility and discretion, providing the administrative, scientific and organisational support required by MPs, parliamentary assistants and the various bodies of the legislature.
According to the letter, ensuring the smooth functioning of parliament and safeguarding the credibility and dignity of the institution depends on a working environment founded on mutual respect and recognition of each employee's contribution.
Call for action
House staff are asking for measures to be taken to prevent future behaviour or public statements that insult employees or diminish the value of their work.
They argue that effective support for parliamentary activity depends on cooperation, trust and mutual respect.
In the closing section of the letter to Demetriou, employees reiterate the need to maintain a climate of mutual respect and institutional decorum, both in workplace interactions and in public discourse.
They also express the expectation that steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
