AKEL

Political consensus forming over lowering voting age

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Political consensus forming over lowering voting age

A legislative proposal to lower the voting age from eighteen to seventeen in Cyprus has been discussed by the House Interior Affairs Committee. The proposal, tabled by DISY MP Averof Neophytou, has garnered agreement from the government and is seen as technically feasible. If approved, the new voting age would enable an additional 8,680 Greek Cypriots and 78 Turkish Cypriots in the free areas to vote in parliamentary elections, and 746 Turkish Cypriots for European elections. The change, if passed, would be applicable from May 2026. The proposal aligns with a broader pan-European trend to lower voting ages and requires a constitutional amendment. The committee also highlighted the need to address other electoral modernization efforts, such as automatic registration in electoral rolls and postal voting, in a comprehensive manner.

House discusses reining in Attorney-general, ’s powers

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House discusses reining in Attorney-general, ’s powers

The House Institutions committee discussed the possibility of limiting the powers of the Attorney-general in Cyprus following the European Commission’s 2023 report on the rule of law. Attorney-general George Savvides has decided to promote an internal review process for his decisions, which will be conducted by a new team of legal officers. The discussion also addressed the need for the Audit service’s access to information and the prioritization of reviewing the Attorney-general’s role by the justice ministry. The committee highlighted the importance of digitizing the Cypriot justice system and reducing delays in adjudication. A proposed law for a constitutional amendment was mentioned, aiming to separate powers and address issues with the Attorney-general’s decision-making process.

Benefits system for disabled to be overhauled

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Benefits system for disabled to be overhauled

The government of Cyprus has committed to reforming the benefits system for disabled individuals by separating it from the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) system. Deputy Welfare Minister Marilena Evangelou emphasized the government’s determination to create specific legislation for disabled benefits, which would address social inclusion, rehabilitation, and services. This decision came after discussions with the Confederation Organisation of the Disabled and plans for further consultations with other organizations. The current integration of disability benefits into the GMI, initiated in 2014, has reportedly resulted in a 40% reduction in benefits for disabled persons. The Confederation’s head, Christakis Nicolaides, has advocated for an increase in state funds for the disabled by €60 million to avoid Cyprus lagging behind in the EU. There is also a call for quicker legislative action from parliament, and suggestions to include benefits for individuals with psychic disorders, such as ADHD, in the new policy. The House labour committee, chaired by Akel MP Andreas Kafkalias, plans to monitor progress on this issue bi-monthly.

ELAM’s ambitions surge amidst turmoil in other parties

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ELAM’s ambitions surge amidst turmoil in other parties

ELAM, a far-right political party in Cyprus, is making bids for control of two major municipalities, Larnaca and Famagusta. MP Soteris Ioannou is running for Larnaca’s mayoral race, while another MP, Linos Papagiannis, is expected to declare his candidacy for Famagusta’s mayoralty. Michalis Michail is also expected to announce his bid for the position of Paphos deputy mayor. ELAM is also preparing for the upcoming European elections and aims to achieve a double-digit percentage. DEPA, another political party, is also preparing for electoral battles and predicts a percentage of 7.5% or higher.

“Do you have samurais fighting snakes?” -MPs comment on UCY budget

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“Do you have samurais fighting snakes?” -MPs comment on UCY budget

The University of Cyprus is facing controversy over its proposed budget. Concerns have been raised about the university’s financial sustainability due to projected deficits in the coming years. MPs have highlighted issues such as excessive cleaning costs, exploitation of student housing by external contractors, and alleged politicisation within the academia. The university has requested funds for travel expenses, rentals, legal expenses, and the Cyprus Cancer Research Institute. The Vice-Rector for International Relations, Economics, and Administration defended the budget, stating that external factors and increased operational expenses have impacted the institution’s finances. He also expressed concern about the low provision for maintenance of building facilities and the lack of budget for the Medical School.

Parliament to probe dropping of corruption cases

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Parliament to probe dropping of corruption cases

Parliament is set to hold hearings on the termination of disciplinary proceedings against contractors previously implicated in corruption and bribery. Akel MP Irini Charalambidou, who is on the House ethics committee, plans to discuss the matter soon. The Contractors Council, responsible for registering and overseeing contractors, recently decided to end disciplinary actions against companies involved in the Paphos sewerage board (Sapa) scandal. In 2015, the Paphos criminal court found the town’s mayor and several municipal councillors guilty of accepting bribes. Two companies, Medcon and Nemesis, were implicated but received immunity for testifying for the prosecution. Medcon still has an active license with ‘A’ status, while Nemesis is no longer listed under that name. The Contractors Council initiated a disciplinary investigation in 2016 but did not complete it. The new board of the Contractors Council dropped the probe in early February, citing the passage of time and potential abuse of process. Paphos Mayor Phedonas Phedonos has urged the attorney-general’s office to investigate why the disciplinary probe was not completed. The Contractors Council had a damning dossier on the implicated contractors since February 2016. The council’s board is appointed by the cabinet and includes officials from the Public Works Department and a senior state’s attorney.

EAC: We will not avoid a 6% increase in tariffs in 2024

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EAC: We will not avoid a 6% increase in tariffs in 2024

The text states that an increase of 6% in electricity prices is necessary to finance investments for upgrading the network. The government will not insist on recovering the costs of 2023, but the 6% increase will still be implemented. The increase translates to approximately 2 cents per kilowatt-hour. The government is considering extending subsidies to alleviate the pressure on consumers. The political parties AKEL and DISY have proposed additional measures to support households and businesses, including taxing the excess profits of energy companies.

Our View: The best way to protect AG, ’s office is to make it accountable.

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Our View: The best way to protect AG, ’s office is to make it accountable.

The text discusses the ongoing conflict between the auditor-general of Cyprus, Odysseas Michaelides, and the attorney-general’s office, led by Giorgos Savvides. The main facts presented in the text are:

1. Auditor-General Odysseas Michaelides has called for an end to the dual role of the attorney-general’s office as both advisor of the state and state prosecutor, a recommendation also made by the European Commission.
2. The European Commission’s Rule of Law report from July 2023 echoed concerns by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (Greco) from 2016 about the risk of improper influence due to the integrated role of the prosecution service within the Law Office.
3. A draft law to reform the attorney-general’s office was submitted to the House in April but did not address the separation of the advisory and prosecutorial roles. Instead, it focused on salary alignment and the establishment of a prosecutorial council.
4. The Law Office has stated there are no plans to separate the two functions, as Greco did not expressly point out or imply the need for such a reform.
5. The Rule of Law report also highlighted concerns about the lack of review for decisions made by the attorney-general not to prosecute or to discontinue cases, a situation unique to Cyprus within the EU.
6. Akel deputy, Irene Charalambides, proposed an amendment to the constitution to limit the attorney-general’s power to decide against or suspend criminal prosecutions in the public interest.
7. The attorney-general recently halted a private criminal prosecution against a Russian oligarch, leading to public accusations of corruption, which the attorney-general denied without providing a full explanation.
8. The proposed constitutional amendment would require a two-thirds majority in the legislature to pass, which is considered unlikely due to lack of support from several parties.

Please note that the text contains opinions and rhetorical questions that are not factual information, such as speculations about the attorney-general’s motivations and the effectiveness of the legal service. These have been omitted from the summary.

Another pro-Palestine protest held in Nicosia

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Another pro-Palestine protest held in Nicosia

The latest pro-Palestine protest in Cyprus occurred in Nicosia’s central Eleftheria square on a Saturday. The protest organizers claimed that nearly 27,000 Gazans had been killed by Israel since October 7 of the previous year. They criticized the European Union and other Western powers for choosing to defund the UNRWA after some members were accused of involvement in Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7. The protesters demanded an immediate permanent ceasefire, an end to the blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and for Israel to stop its actions in the West Bank. This protest followed a statement from the Palestinian embassy in Nicosia expressing disappointment with the Cypriot foreign ministry’s description of the genocide charges Israel faces at the International Court of Justice as “inaccurate.” Ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis had referred to the Palestinian casualties as “collateral damage,” which was met with a strong response from ambassador Abdallah Attari. Pro-Palestine protests have also occurred in other Cypriot cities and at British military facilities.

Delor of "EEC-NATO…"

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Delor of "EEC-NATO..."

Jacques Delors, the former President of the European Commission, had the strategic goal of deepening cooperation among the existing members of the European Economic Community (EEC). He aimed to expand and strengthen this cooperation, as well as replace the German mark with a pan-European currency accepted by all. Delors believed that adopting a common currency required a framework of overall enforced fiscal and financial discipline. This framework was later established through the Maastricht criteria. Delors received support from various European leaders, including Chancellor Kohl of West Germany, Prime Minister Thatcher of the UK, and President Bush of the US. During his tenure, the EEC expanded with the accession of Spain, Portugal, Austria, Sweden, and Cyprus. It is noteworthy that Cyprus applied for membership and eventually joined the EU with the support of the AKEL party, despite previously criticizing the EEC as being the same as NATO.