A directive giving civil servants contesting local elections the option to take unpaid leave and which attracted the ire of Alternattiva Demokratika was interpreted wrongly, the head of the public service has admitted.

Principal Permanent Secretary Godwin Grima clarified that the directive did not force local election candidates working with the civil service to take leave of any kind.

“Article four of directive five introduced the possibility for civil service employees contesting local elections to take 15 days unpaid leave if they wanted to. The individual still has the right not to take leave or to avail himself of ordinary leave entitlement.”

Dr Grima was forced to clarify misconceptions airising from a wrong interpretation of the directive by top officials of the civil service. Through an e-mail, which he circulated, AD councillor Ralph Cassar, who is employed by the competition authority, was informed by the civil service human resources director general that candidates had to be relieved of their public service duty and take 15 days of unpaid leave. As a result, AD threatened to withdraw its candidates from the forthcoming local elections.

However, in a meeting between Dr Grima and AD representatives Carmel Cacopardo and Arnold Cassola, it was clarified that leave for candidates contesting local council elections was optional and candidates need not take leave. Subsequently, AD said it will be fielding its candidates for the March 10 local elections.