Complaints Filed Over Diplomat Hiring at Cyprus' Foreign Ministry

Serious complaints have been filed with the Administrative Court regarding the hiring process of 20 attachés to the diplomatic corps. The complaints, brought by candidates excluded from the final list, question the meritocracy and transparency of the process.

According to a report in "Phileleftheros," the objections concern the filling of permanent positions in the Foreign Service, where, out of 1,214 applicants, 42 reached the interview stage and 20 were ultimately appointed. The appointments were ratified at the end of 2024.

Three candidates with high scores on the written exams have filed legal action against the Republic and the Public Service Commission, challenging the weight given to oral interviews (20%) compared to written exams (80%). They claim that candidates with lower scores on the written exams overtook candidates with higher scores due to the interview performance.

Furthermore, the qualifications of some appointees are being questioned, including the required excellent knowledge of Greek and very good knowledge of French, as stipulated by the Service Plan. It is also alleged that qualifications obtained after the application deadline were taken into account.

The candidates allege unjustified decisions and a problematic composition of the MFA's Advisory Committee. The Republic of Cyprus has filed an objection to the appeals, with the case expected to be heard in the coming months.