Controversy over removal of Palaichori Oreinis community leader

Tasos Michaelides, the long-serving community leader of Palaichori Oreinis, has been removed from office by the Ministry of the Interior. Ministry officials, including Director of Local Government Antonis Oikonomidis, clarified that this is not a disciplinary suspension but an automatic disqualification under current legislation, triggered by a 2021 court conviction involving charges of assault, causing bodily harm, and trespassing dating back to 2015. While officials admitted the legal process was delayed, they maintained that the law must be strictly upheld.

Michaelides and the local Community Council have disputed the timing of this action, labeling it a retaliatory measure. On September 29, the council unanimously decided to file a complaint with the Cabinet against senior Ministry officials regarding the relocation of the Madari-Papoutsa Community Services Cluster seat from Palaichori to Alona. The process for Michaelides's removal began the following day, September 30. The community council has now formally requested an administrative inquiry into the Ministry’s handling of the matter and is seeking intervention from the President of the Republic to address what they describe as a breach of institutional order.