Controversy emerges over new Cyta board appointment

The Cypriot Council of Ministers announced the new Board of Directors for the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (Cyta) on August 6, 2026. Shortly after the announcement, labor unions, including ASET-Cyta, OYYK-SEK, and SEK, expressed strong opposition to the appointment of Loizos Oikonomidis. The unions allege that his inclusion represents a clear case of institutional incompatibility and conflict of interest, demanding that the President of the Republic and the Council of Ministers revoke the decision immediately.

The concerns raised by the unions center on three main points: Oikonomidis's spouse is employed as a secretary to a senior Cyta executive, which violates legislation regarding first-degree relatives in such positions; he is an elected member of the staff pension fund management committee; and he recently served as a vice president of the PASY-ATHK trade union. Critics argue that these roles create an ethical and legal conflict, noting that he is a recent retiree from the organization under a voluntary exit scheme. The unions have called for an investigation into the Advisory Council's role in vetting the appointment.