Phileleftheros sources have raised the subject regarding the participation of Lieutenant General Loukas Hadjimichael, the Deputy Commander of the National Guard, in the evaluations of 43 senior and top-ranking officers of the military last week.
The issue revolves around the role of the deputy commander, as he was the presenter in the said procedure, while simultaneously being judged was his brother who serves in the National Guard as a senior officer.
Phileleftheros requested a statement from the second-in-command in the hierarchy of the military, asserting that his role is such that it does not affect the assessment of officers at all, nor was the outcome favorably influenced by his relative.
As far as we are aware, the matter is being vigorously discussed within military circles.
The four-member high crisis council convened last Wednesday.
It consisted of the Ministers of Defense, Interior, and Foreign Affairs, Vasilis Palmas, Constantinos Ioannou, and Konstantinos Kompοs, respectively, as well as the Chief of the National Guard, George Tsitsikostas.
The deputy commander served as the presenter, as he did last year, with his brother being judged.
What was commented on and brought to our attention is that based on the “General Principles of Administrative Law (1999)” and the article concerning the principle of impartiality, the deputy commander should have sought an exemption from the entire process.
It should be noted that the contentious article of the legislation states: “A person who has a peculiar relationship or blood or marriage ties up to the fourth degree or is in acute enmity with the person concerned in the pending case or has an interest in its outcome shall not participate in the production of an administrative act.”
However, Hadjimichael clarified in statements to Phileleftheros that the issue of his role and that of the judged relative troubled the high crisis council and was discussed.
Ultimately, it was decided that his involvement did not in any way affect the process. He further stated that the same happened last year.
“I do not vote. As a presenter, I presented the data. I did not express any personal opinion,” he told us. Responding to our clarification question, he said that another person makes proposals and recommendations.
He added, “I present the data from the files. If asked by a committee member about something specific, I am obliged to respond based on what is in each person’s file. That’s what I do. It’s not my job. Nor do I have a say, that is, to vote, or any other decisive role.”
The deputy commander stated that the issue “was raised last year” as well. He concluded by saying that “because I do not vote, do not submit, or influence anything, I simply present the data, it was judged that there was no issue.”
It should be noted that the deputy’s brother has not reached the age limit for retirement, so there is no question of his retirement being raised as he has successfully completed his career, nor has he been promoted.
The annual regular evaluations of senior and top-ranking officers of the NG, namely those with the rank of Colonel and above, took place last Wednesday.
The directly involved were 43 officers of the highest ranks, who in this case were two Brigadier Generals, 10 Colonels, and 31 Brigadiers.
Following the decisions made on Wednesday, three Colonels retired gracefully (having completed their 55 years), while there was also a resignation of a Rear Admiral.
An equivalent number of Brigadiers were promoted to fill the vacancies. Additionally, a number of Brigadiers were retired, deemed unfit for promotion.
Following the Wednesday evaluations, six senior officers originate from the Artillery branch.
This is considered a result of the new criteria adopted since 2023 (possession of a postgraduate degree and proficiency in a foreign language).
