Six years after the last reduction in the number of police officers accompanying political figures, the issue came back to the fore after actions by the Minister of Justice to carry out a risk assessment on the occasion of the reshuffles of the parties
that achieved entry into Parliament.
During the ministry of Emily Giolitis, a small but significant reduction of the guards had been achieved with the consensus of the parties, while the previous one was during the ministry of Sophocles Sophocles. Now, with the entry into Parliament of Odysseas Michailidis and the Direct Democracy movement of Phidias Panagiotou, the issue is in the foreground. The Minister of Justice and Public Order, Kostas Fytiris, listening to modern European trends and setting an example, withdrew the guard to his home and called on the Risk Assessment Committee to re-evaluate all cases. Today there are other measures available to the citizens to protect them, which is why the static guards - except for the President - the suggestion is that they be abolished and measures such as the installation of security cameras, lighting, etc. should be taken.
The question remains about who is at risk and who should have a guard? The Risk Assessment Committee has made its assessment for each political leader and the issue is now at the highest level, that is, in the Council of Ministers. Already, according to information from "F", there are reactions to the intentions to remove the guard mainly from former officials. However, the will of the public, as reflected in online polls, is universal in terms of reducing them or even abolishing them in some cases.
Five police officers have already been removed from the static point in the house of the Minister of Justice and three from the former president of SK EDEK, Nikos Anastasiou. A reduction of the guard will occur for the former President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, who currently has 12 police officers, since in addition to the escort there is also a guard at his home in Limassol. A proposal for the withdrawal of the escort is made by the competent Police Committee for the former presidents of the Parliament who have had two police officers for years. A proposal for the removal of the police officer they have is also made for Androulla Vassiliou and Elsie Christofia. The policeman was given to them as wives of Presidents of the Republic.
As "F" wrote in the past, for the president of the ALMA movement, Odysseas Michaelides, a suggestion is made for the disposal of two police guards, while for Phidias Panagiotou, the suggestion is to have two police officers only when he is in Cyprus. The other leaders of parliamentary parties are not affected. Decisions on the matter are expected to be made next week.
