Mitsotakis vows not to sack civil servants

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis insisted yesterday that a conservative government will not sack public sector employees.

Speaking to civil servants at a central Athens hotel yesterday where he outlined ND’s plans for the public sector, Mitsotakis said speculation about sackings was nothing but “black propaganda” peddled by the ruling SYRIZA party in order to chip away at conservative support.

Responding to questions, he said that fewer people will be hired to the public sector compared to those that leave, while adding that hirings will be made in such a way as to meet the specific needs of the civil service.

“I want to bring down the party-based state and build a truly meritocratic one,” he said and accused the leftist-led government of trying to transform the state to serve the needs of ruling SYRIZA.

He added that he wants public sector workers to be on the side of the conservative government as it tries to get the country back on its feet.

Citing his tenure at the Ministry of Administrative Reform, Mitsotakis said the only way someone can run a ministry is not by appointing hordes of advisers but by making the best of human resources and working with capable public servants in order to maximize the public administration’s efficiency.

“I will put my trust in public sector employees,” he said, adding that his government will strive to improve and speed up services for the public. He called on them to be “responsible” and proud that they are public servants, not just “employees.”

The plan he outlined also stressed the significance of rewarding public servants who perform well.

This can be done, he said, through evaluations of public sector employees, which form a fundamental component of ND’s plan that espouses a different philosophy of public administration.

Last week, Mitsotakis had dared the government to call snap elections for September if it is so sure Greece will have a clean exit from the bailout program in August.