Government , ‘has the will’ to implement reform
Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou stated that challenges to the implementation of local government reform in Cyprus will be addressed with the assistance of parliament. A meeting on the issue was held with party leaders at the Presidential Palace, chaired by President Nikos Christodoulides. The government is committed to proceeding with the reform according to the existing legislation passed by the House. There are less than 100 days left until the reform’s implementation, and a road map has been prepared by the ministry.
The challenges include securing buildings for district self-governing authorities, staff training, and completing the ‘Evagoras’ data system software. The ministry’s role is supportive, particularly through the central advisory committee, assisting municipalities and elected officials with software, organizational charts, or budgets.
The president reiterated the government’s determination to implement the bill as passed. The legislation is acknowledged as not ideal, with problems identified and brought to parliament since the previous June. The ministry has hired 87 people to help simplify processes related to the reform. Concerns about the reform process exist, as is common with major reforms. The ministry cannot intervene directly to secure buildings for the reform but can pressure provisional councils. Despite not being ideal, the reform is considered better than the existing system, and the executive branch assures that it will implement the legislation as passed.