Cyprus MP Defends Poll Credentials

In Cyprus, an MP and a trade union leader have clashed publicly over the latter's apparent DIY conduct and publication of a survey of public opinion, allegedly showing massive concern over the state of the island's civil service.

According to a report on www.cyprus-mail.com , PASYDY General Secretary Glafcos Hadjipetrou and AKEL MP Aristos Aristotelous exchange the heated comments on a morning show on CyBC radio.

Hadjipetrou accused Aristotelous of producing the survey 'purely for financial and political gain, and of not having the necessary scientific background to do so', claiming that he had 'used the letterhead of the House of Representatives... and asked various government ministers to buy a satisfactory number of copies of a knocked-together report... just a duplicated copy, at EUR 200 per copy.'

He added that the union had asked the Cyprus Association of Opinion Poll & Market Research Enterprises, 'comprising people who are qualified do these things professionally, to judge whether Mr Aristotelous has the necessary experience and background to carry out a survey which with a few glib phrases rips the civil service to shreds'. Hadjipetrou also said he would be talking to the House Ethics Committee about the MP's actions.

In reply Aristotelous said the accusations were 'laughable', he had 'nothing to fear and nothing to hide' and challenged the union to conduct its own survey and act on the results: 'Let them publish it and follow the people's recommendations to fix things, because people have already had to put up with enough.'

The number of civil servants in the country has increased by around a third in the last 14 years to nearly 52,000. Aristotelous' report discusses responses from 588 people island-wide to 16 questions. The proportion supposedly admitting to using bribery or connections to get a job done at a state department ranged from 64% in Limassol to 84% in Larnaca.

Aristotelous said the survey was '100 per cent scientifically-based' and 'carried out with help, co-operation and constant supervision by large and reputable polling companies'.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.