Bill being drafted to suspend civil servants who face trial
The country’s public administration watchdog, Leandros Rakintzis, and Alternate Administrative Reform Minister Christoforos Vernardakis on Monday heralded legislative reform that foresees the suspension of civil servants charged with crimes or misdemeanors.
The amendment, which is expected to be submitted in Parliament by mid-October, comes after widespread criticism of a bill drafted by the previous SYRIZA-led coalition government that paved the way for hundreds of civil servants facing charges to return to their jobs. In a speech over the weekend, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras distanced himself from the previous bill, which was the initiative of Giorgos Katrougalos, the former administrative reform minister and the current labor minister.
The new bill is to stipulate that any civil servants who have been indicted on a range of offenses including fraud and embezzlement would be obliged to take forced leave until the resolution of their case. In the event that they are exonerated, they will be able to return to their jobs.
The officials also heralded the creation of a committee, in which Rakintzis is to participate, that will review the existing disciplinary legislation.
