The commander of the Presidential Guard is changing status from a police member to a military officer for the first time, with a National Guard member assuming the position.
Already there are murmurs within the police force regarding this change, not in high positions, but among officers who were or are in the Presidential Guard and considered that the same practice would be followed with the appointment of a responsible person from police ranks.
The position of Presidential Guard Commander became vacant after the previous commander, Panikos Stavrou, was appointed by President Christodoulides as Deputy Police Chief due to side effects from the escape of a life-sentenced hairdresser.
Andreas Pettemerids to be seconded from National Guard
While the position remained vacant for months, it was suddenly decided that military officer Andreas Pettemerids, former Special Forces battalion commander, would assume it.
Andreas Pettemerids has been a representative of the “Isaak-Solomou Memory Initiative” for several years, and due to this capacity, he has had meetings with several political personalities, including former Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos.
The selection, as estimated, was made based on the major’s service record in the Special Forces and excellent training and character during a period when situations were not the best.
Police officers express concerns over broken tradition
According to philenews information, his transfer to the Presidential Guard will be made through secondment, as the Republic’s military legislation allows the secondment of any National Guard member to any state service.
This was done previously with the Civil Defence commander as well.
President Christodoulides’s decision to appoint a new commander of his guard (not his security) from the National Guard rather than the police was made, as we were told by the Presidential Palace, because this happens in other countries as well.
It is not unusual for the head of a president’s guard to be a military officer. However, the issue causes reactions due to the change in practice, namely, not preferring someone from police ranks and selecting a National Guard officer instead.
