The government's proposed measures to address sports violence have sparked a storm of reactions, both from parliamentary parties and the Football Federation, calling on the Ministry of Justice to withdraw the draft law and consult with those involved in shaping a new legislative proposal.
The proposed law by E. Charalambidou aims to put an end to the uncontrolled power of the general prosecutor to justify the acquittals of defendants in criminal cases. The proposal will be presented to the Parliament and aims to modify the Constitution in order to control the decisions of the general prosecutor. Currently, the general prosecutor has the power to intervene and interrupt criminal proceedings based on Article 113 of the Constitution. However, this power is not subject to judicial review and the general prosecutor can make decisions without being accountable to anyone. The proposed law seeks to address this issue and ensure transparency and accountability in the justice system. The need for this reform has been highlighted by international organizations, including the European Commission, which stated that the lack of control over the decisions of the general prosecutor raises concerns and is not in line with the principles of the rule of law.
The fact described in the text is that due to water accumulation on the road in various areas in Nicosia, specifically in Strovolos and Aglantzia, citizens are advised to avoid unnecessary travel. The police have also urged drivers to be cautious and drive at very low speeds.
The content of the text is about a letter sent to the Parliament by advisors who do not hold degrees, requesting a modification of the government bill that terminates their contracts. They are asking for the preservation of their positions and asserting their rights. The fact described in the text is that advisors who are at risk of losing their jobs due to not having a degree have sent a letter to the members of the Institutions Committee, requesting equal treatment as the advisors and members of parliament who were exempted from similar qualifications in a previous law.
The Greek Government expressed its clear position not to change the operating hours of retail stores in order to maintain the commercial environment as it has been for the past decade. The Minister of Labor, Giannis Panagiotou, stated that the current commercial environment was a product of specific socio-economic conditions and that the main problem now is the need for more people to fill job positions. The Government believes that any changes in the rules of the market would be a setback and create uncertainty. The Legal Service is working closely with the Ministry to establish a regulatory framework for the commercial environment. The majority of European countries maintain Sunday as a day off, and the issue of working on Sundays in Cyprus needs to be addressed in relation to the rights of workers. The Democratic Rally party supports maintaining the current commercial environment, while the Movement for Social Democracy party suggests redefining the rights of workers who work on Sundays. The issue will be further discussed in the Labor Advisory Body.
The fact described in the text is that the administrative board of RIK decided to penalize the employee, director Savvas Aristodemou, by cutting three monthly salaries and downgrading his salary scale from A13 to A11. This decision is considered unprecedented in the history of public service, as such a severe penalty has never been imposed on a permanent public employee before. The decision was made in response to a post made by Aristodemou on social media, where he indirectly referred to a member of the RIK board and accused them of promoting a specific journalist for personal interests. The post led to an internal investigation and after several sessions, the board decided to impose the penalty. It is expected that Aristodemou will appeal the decision in the Administrative Court.
The text states that the government believes that the measures taken by the Cyprus Football Association to address fan violence are not sufficient. As a result, the government is proposing an amended bill that would give the Cabinet the power to decide whether matches should be played without fans and would require fan clubs to operate under the responsibility of sports clubs.
The announcement of the Cyprus Football Association (KOP) after the meeting with the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Mario Haritiotis, states that no new measures were decided at this stage. However, the effectiveness of the measure prohibiting the movement of fans will be monitored and KOP will reintroduce new measures if necessary. In addition, a recommendation was made to the Sports Judge, Aristotelis Vryonidis, for the imposition of strict penalties, including fines up to half a million euros and demotion, for serious incidents. The KOP also expressed its commitment to combat violence in football and ensure the safety of all involved in the sport.
![Condemnation of a doctor: The penalties that can be imposed by the PIS [audio]](https://ch.jfdi.cc/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/condemnation-of-a-doctor-the-penalties-that-can-be-imposed-by-the-pis-audio.jpg)
The Cyprus Medical Association expects to be informed of the court's decision so that all the procedures provided by the legislation can be followed. The penalties that the Cyprus Medical Association can impose on a doctor who has been convicted again for indecent assault against a patient range from reprimand, financial fine, to revocation of their professional license. The process involves presenting the case to the Disciplinary Board and then assigning an investigating officer to investigate the case. The appointment of an investigating officer is required by law, even if there is a court decision.
According to the Auditor General, the pension of a former President of the Republic amounts to €8,000 per month, and therefore "is not a person without means to buy a vehicle with their own funds." The proposal suggests limiting the benefits of acquiring a car and employment allowance for secretaries to five years instead of lifetime for former Presidents of the Republic and former Presidents of the House of Representatives. The proposal also suggests that the employment allowance for secretaries should be paid directly by the Republic on behalf of the official, and that it should be based on a private law employment contract with a corresponding salary scale. In addition, it proposes that in case the officials request security measures from the Ministry of Justice, a decision of the Council of Ministers will be required, determining the duration and the reassessment of the necessity, with notification to the House of Representatives. The President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, expressed her intention to submit a bill on the same issue, stating that lifelong benefits should be abolished. The General Auditor, Odysseas Michaelides, noted that the pension of a former President of the Republic amounts to €8,000 per month and therefore they are not a person without means to buy a vehicle with their own funds. The proposal also suggests that the employment allowance for secretaries should be examined for its proper use, and that a nominal list of the people employed by former officials as secretaries should be provided to verify the correct use of the allowance. The Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services keeps records of the vehicles of officials, including the cost of purchase and maintenance. The vehicles are for exclusive use, and the fuel is paid by the Republic of Cyprus. The proposal to limit the benefits of former officials has been discussed in the Institutions Committee, and the discussion will continue after a research is conducted on the practices in other EU member states. Various Members of Parliament expressed their opinions on the issue, with some supporting the proposal to limit the benefits and others opposing it.