The civil servants’ main union on Monday came to the defence of former auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides, urging authorities to immediately pay the ex-official all his pension dues.
“Regardless of the preceding events, it should be clear to all that the pension rights of every working person are, as established by legal precedent, an inalienable asset,” the union Pasydy said in a statement.
It noted that Michaelides has been a member of Pasydy since 1998.“Irrespective of the…decision by the Supreme Constitutional Court on the dismissal of Mr Michaelides, a decision which is respected, it must be clear to everyone that pension rights are a working person’s inalienable asset and therefore sacred and non-negotiable.”
The union added: “We at Pasydy do not think it fair for Mr Michaelides to be penalised twice over the same matter. We therefore appeal to all the relevant officials to immediately pay [Michaelides] all his pension benefits.”
Over the weekend, Michaelides himself claimed that the government was “illegally withholding” his pension and other financial benefits he believes he is due on account of his time spent in the public sector.
In a letter sent to the state treasurer, and which he made public, he said both the government and attorney-general George Savvides have engaged in a “war of extermination” against him.
The former official claims that he is due to be paid both a pension and a lump sum corresponding to 26 years of service between September 9, 1998, and September 18 this year when he was relieved of his duties by the Supreme Constitutional Court, which found he had conducted himself inappropriately while in office.
In his outburst, Michaelides also blamed President Nikos Christodoulides.
Meantime the European Commission has responded to a query filed to it by Cypriot MEP Fidias Panayiotou regarding Michaelides’ recent dismissal.
In late September, the MEP had submitted a parliamentary question to the European Commission regarding the rule of law in Cyprus.
Panayiotou mentioned “concerns” that Michaelides may have been dismissed due to his well-known anti-corruption activities.
The MEP asked the Commission whether it would launch an official investigation into potential breaches of the rule of law in Cyprus concerning the removal of the former auditor-general, and if warranted, whether the Commission would propose infringement proceedings.
Replying in late October, European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders said the Commission has no jurisdiction to intervene in isolated court cases adjudged in EU member states.
