Resigning in the wake of a convicted murderer’s escape under police guard would be a cowardly move that would only satisfy populism, Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis said on Monday.
Speaking on CyBC radio, Hartsiotis said he had no reservations about undertaking the political responsibility, which he acted on by identifying mistakes and weaknesses and focusing on correcting them.
He referred to media calling for his resignation and said political responsibility had clear roles for all people in politics.
“The cowardly and easy action of resigning [would] give food to satisfy specific groups of the population but also to satisfy populism,” he said.
“It would be irresponsible to turn my back and let the next one sort it out.”
He added that he had only been minister eight months and had not had the chance to show what he is capable of.
The minister said he had identified mistakes and omissions in the recent case of the escaped murder convict Doros Theofanous, who was on the loose for three days after he was given leave for a home visit, and had immediately reactivated the prison council, which had been “idle since 2022”, as well as the anticrime policy centre. Theofanous had been sentenced in 2012 for the murder of his pregnant partner and her three-year-old daughter.
Hartsiotis pointed out that legislation enabled lifers who had served ten years to take leave approved by a committee, while and those who had served less time were allowed to take leave under special circumstances approved by the director of the prisons.
“All this is now under the microscope of the justice ministry to find the best possible solutions,” he added.
He also said a new director of prisons would be appointed in 2025, when the current director’s term expires.
Hartsiotis did not comment on the president’s decision last week to dismiss the chief and deputy chief of police, but said a process was in motion to restructure the higher levels of the police force.
“There will be a general restructuring, a freshening,” he said.
