The Ministry of Justice will soon submit regulations to Parliament allowing police officers and firefighters to contest public office - including President of the Republic, MP and mayor - without resigning. Unions for both services were formally notified on 15 September and asked to provide views quickly so the rules can be passed before the May 2026 parliamentary elections. The move follows court rulings that the executive is obliged to respect.
Court backdrop and constitutional basis
The Court of Appeal on 13 March 2025 upheld a first-instance decision that deemed the blanket ban on members of the security services standing for election unconstitutional. The case concerned police officer Christodoulos Christodoulou, who was ultimately able to run as an independent in 2021 after the lower court struck down the prohibition on the eve of the vote. Citing Article 64 of the Constitution, the Court noted that all citizens over 21 may stand for Parliament unless disqualified for specific offences or incapacity, and that the article does not exclude police, firefighters or the armed forces.
What would change for police and firefighters
Under the draft approach, officers would mirror entitlements already granted to other public and wider-public employees, including up to 40 days’ leave before elections - extendable to 45 days, with or without pay - plus one month after the vote. Successful candidates would automatically retire from their posts, while unsuccessful candidates would return to their positions without prejudice to their status or views expressed during the campaign.
Military exception sparks clash
A separate bill tabled by Defence Committee chair Marinos Sizopoulos would extend similar rights to serving military personnel, allowing leave, with or without pay, to contest office and protections against retaliation. The Ministry of Defence and the National Guard General Staff (GEEF) oppose the proposal, urging MPs to vote it down. They argue it would harm order and discipline within the force, citing scenarios where a senior officer might run for Parliament, publicly criticise political and military leadership, fail to get elected, then return to command as if nothing happened.
Unlike police and firefighters - whose political rights will be brought into line with other state employees through the forthcoming regulations - the military carve-out remains unresolved, with the government and General Staff continuing to disagree despite the wider judicial direction for compliance on political candidacy rights.
