Filenews 12 February 2026 - by Dora Christodoulou
A new headache for the Municipality of Paphos, which in recent days has been faced with the turmoil that has been created with the holiday of the mayor, Phaedon Phedonos, but also with the use of the pre-service leave of the municipal secretary, Themis Filippidis.
This time, two ministries are dealing with the issue that arose with a municipal councillor, due to incompatibility.
According to our information, this is Kostas Diplaros of AKEL. The municipal councillor in question was found to have retained, for the last two years or so, both the status of an appointed employee in the public sector (teacher) and the capacity of a municipal councillor.
After being informed, the two ministries, one related to his appointment in the public sector and the other, the Ministry of the Interior related to his capacity as a member of the Municipal Council, acted immediately by sending letters to the interested party, inviting him to choose either the position in the public sector or his stay in the position of elected municipal councillor.
According to information, the issue became apparent after the public interventions of this person, on television and radio shows, about what has been happening in the Municipality of Paphos lately. This fact may also raise disciplinary issues regarding the service he works for, since at the time of his appearance in the media, he should be at work. This should possibly be checked by their superiors as well.
The same information states that already on the part of his superiors in the competent Ministry to which the municipal councillor belongs, a letter has been sent to him, explaining to him in detail the reasons that constitute incompatibility with maintaining his position in the Paphos Municipal Council and at the same time he is asked to choose either to maintain his professional capacity, or the position of municipal councillor.
In compliance with the provisions of laws and regulations and the Ministry of the Interior through the Paphos District Officer as the competent person, the interested party will be informed of the incompatibility. As Menelaos Vassiliou has confirmed speaking to "F" on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior, the prefect Efrosini Georgiou was informed.
In the case of the Ministry of Interior, Article 18, paragraph 3 of the Municipalities Law applies, where the reasons for incompatibility are detailed in case someone is hired in the public sector and at the same time serves as an elected official, in this case in a municipal council.
The issue is expected to be addressed, apparently after the mayor in the Municipality of Paphos and the Municipal Council have been notified to make their own decisions.
Obviously the issue was known long before the mayor of Paphos was suspended, but neither he nor the other municipal councillors put it up for resolution.
