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Stay of execution for ERA store in Paphos after president intervenes

ΕΚΔΗΛΩΣΗ ΔΙΑΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑΣ ΕΡΓΑΖΟΜΕΝΩΝ ΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΟΥ ΚΕΝΤΡΟΥ ΕΠΙΔΟΣΗ ΥΠΟΜΝΗΜΑΤΟΣ
ERA workers out in protest last month (CNA)

President Nicos Anastasiades has intervened in the case between Paphos municipality and ERA Department Store – formerly ‘Korivos’ – allowing a nine-month suspension of a ruling issued by Paphos district court for the store to terminate its business operations on November 14.

According to a statement released by the company, CTC Plc, the Paphos court had issued a decree to terminate full use of the building in Paphos within a two-month period, starting September 14, unless the relevant permits could be issued by the competent authorities and the Paphos municipality before the due date.

“Applications for authorisation were submitted a while back, but were not processed for reasons beyond our control,” the statement said.

Anastasiades was asked by CTC Plc to intervene, and, after considering all the facts of the case, and at the advice of both the attorney-general and deputy attorney-general, the case was granted a suspension under Article 53.4 of the Constitution, allowing adequate time for a licence to be issued.

The Paphos municipality and the relevant authorities appealed to the district court, claiming that ERA department store in Paphos has been operating illegally, and its current business licence concerns only a supermarket.

Furthermore, the department store has undertaken arbitrary large-scale extension works without consent, affecting both indoor and outdoor areas, the municipality said. The municipality remains adamant that a granting of a licence will only be issued when the ‘illegal’ structures are removed.

During his visit to Paphos on October 29 for the inauguration of the town’s social welfare centre, Anastasiades reassured ERA employees who were protesting outside that he was following the case closely, and that all the necessary steps would be taken in accordance with the law.

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