Ionas Nicolaou
Ιωνάς Νικολάου
Minister of Justice and Public Order
In office
1 March 2013 – 1 June 2019
PresidentNicos Anastasiades
Succeeded byGeorge L. Savvides
Personal details
Born21 January 1963
Nicosia, Cyprus
Political partyDemocratic Rally
Alma materAristotle University of Thessaloniki

Ionas Nicolaou (Greek: Ιωνάς Νικολάου; born 21 January 1963 in Nicosia)[1] is a Cypriot lawyer and former Democratic Rally politician. He served as Minister of Justice and Public Order during two governments, but left office on 1 June 2019 following his resignation.

Education and career

Nicolaou studied law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and has a master's degree in European Union Studies.[1] He worked as a lawyer before becoming a politician.[1][2]

Political career

In 2001, Nicolaou was elected to represent Nicosia in Parliament, and continued to do so until 2013.[1] He was the chairman of the Cypriot parliament's legal affairs committee,[3] Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, and Member of the Parliamentary Committee on the Interior.[1]

Ministerial career

Nicolaou was first appointed Minister of Justice and Public Order on 1 March 2013,[4] during the first Anastasiades government.[5] During this time, Nicolaou oversaw high-profile corruption cases, such as the CYTA land deal and pension fund allegations, for which he vowed to end impunity and "go after" anyone involved in crimes.[6] Nicolaou oversaw the creation of a complaints committee to uphold human rights at the Menoyia (Menogeia) Immigration Detention Centre, which held its first meeting in July 2013.[7]

Nicolaou supported the creation of deputy ministers with a focus on commercial shipping, development, and the European Union.[8] He argued that the new deputy ministers would work with their respective ministers, but not sit in the Cabinet, so that output could be increased within the various governmental departments.[8]

He continued to be Minister of Justice and Public Order during the second Anastasiades government, starting on 13 February 2018.[5]

Resignation as minister

Nicolaou resigned on 2 May 2019, after accusations of police failure relating to the investigation of Nikos Metaxas, a serial killer.[9] Officials were accused of carelessness when investigating the missing persons reports of the seven victims, due to their status as migrants.[9] Along with his resignation, Nicolaou called for an independent inquiry into the lack of initial investigation.[9]

Nicolaou stepped down as minister on 1 June 2019, and was succeeded by George L. Savvides.[10] He announced he would not be returning to politics in any way, instead returning to practice law.[2]

Personal life

Nicolaou is married with two daughters.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Parliament Of Cyprus - Νικολάου Ιωνάς". www.parliament.cy. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Nicolaou quit for reasons of 'political ethics'". Cyprus Mail. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Spy suspect 'missing' in Cyprus". BBC News. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Ministry of Justice and Public Order - Historical Background". www.mjpo.gov.cy. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  5. ^ a b Psyllides, George (13 February 2018). "New cabinet announced (Update 1)". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Nicolaou says 'days of impunity' are over". Cyprus Mail. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  7. ^ Gregoriou, Maria (26 July 2013). "Nicolaou meets Menoyia complaints committee". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  8. ^ a b Pantelides, Poly (19 September 2013). "Up to six deputy ministers could be appointed". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  9. ^ a b c "Cyprus minister quits over serial killer case". BBC News. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  10. ^ Andreou, Evie (28 May 2019). "Rumours swirl over new justice minister". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
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