Ministry of Interior rejects claims of recruitment scandal in public service

On November 12, 2026, during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Interior Affairs, Member of Parliament Zacharias Koulias alleged that a recruitment scandal occurred within the Department of Administration. Koulias claimed that 27 positions—seven at the A15 scale and 20 at the A13 scale—were filled without written examinations. He further asserted that while the initial plan was to fill a small number of posts, approximately 160 officials were eventually hired, with claims that the positions were awarded to personal associates who now refuse to relocate to regional offices.

The Ministry of the Interior issued a formal response rejecting these allegations as baseless and inconsistent with reality. The Ministry clarified that the hiring process followed the provisions of Article 34 of the Public Service Laws of 1990–2025. According to the Ministry, the established Advisory Committees exercised their legal discretion to utilize oral examinations for these first-appointment and promotion positions. Officials emphasized that the recruitment occurred two years ago, in full compliance with approved service plans, and noted that candidates were evaluated based on their qualifications, personal files, and annual service reports.