Minister says prosecutors may be brought in if civil service evaluation is blocked

Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis suggested on Monday that he might call on the help of prosecutors to ensure that civil servants comply with the evaluation process in the public sector.

“The fraudsters who used fake certificates to secure their jobs have to be sent home,” Mitsotakis told Skai TV on Monday.

The minister is facing resistance from the civil servants’ union, ADEDY, on the issue but said that he would call in prosecutors if necessary to ensure the law is enforced. Mitsotakis added that local authority officials could also face legal action if they are found to have hired civil servants with forged qualifications.

Mitsotakis is also facing resistance from 19, mostly SYRIZA-affiliated, mayors on the issue. The mayors are opposed to the government’s efforts to recheck contracts that were upgraded from fixed-term to permanent in 2006 as it believes this was done illegally and the public servants on such deals should be removed.

However, the mayors argue that vital municipal services, such as nursery schools, will be left without the necessary staff.

Mitsotakis said he is waiting to see what stance Attica Governor Rena Dourou takes on the issue when the regional authority’s council meets on Tuesday.