Issues over presidential advisers to be discussed in September

Issues arising around the controversial hiring of presidential and ministerial advisers are being put on hold until September, when the House ethics committee convenes after its summer recess.

Until then, no names are being made public, with only initials appearing in documents.

Many of the advisers are believed to be family members and close friends – koumbari – of the presidential couple.

These political appointments were to be discussed in the House ethics committee on July 10, however Disy MP Demetris Demetriou who tabled the issue caught Covid, so instead of rescheduling the meeting, the House postponed it to September.

Demetriou, who is also chairman of the Ethics committee, told daily Politis that this would be the first issue on the committee’s agenda in September.

A bill tabled by House Speaker Annita Demetriou to establish her own advisers will also be discussed.

Commissioner for the protection of personal data Irene Loizides told Politis that the names of the advisers had not been concealed on her recommendation.

This decision, she said, lies with the presidential palace.