Four laws revising electoral provisions and the legislative framework of Local Government reform were voted by the Plenary of the Parliament.
The first law revises the Law on Municipalities regarding the holding of TA elections in order to make the implementation of the new action and operation framework of the municipalities more effective. 33 deputies voted in favor, 2 against and there were 15 abstentions. A DISY amendment was also voted so that the incompatibility of hourly employees in the School Ephories only concerns the position of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
The second law amends the Law on the Population Register, so that in municipal districts in which the number of registered voters does not exceed two hundred voters, the possibility is provided to voters who do not have their usual residence in the mentioned municipal districts to register at their own choice as electors, under certain conditions, as is currently the case in the case of small communities, bearing in mind that under the local government reform, twenty-two (22) small communities will be municipal divisions of the newly established municipalities. They voted in favor 45 against 1 and there were 2 abstentions.
The third law amends the Law on Provincial Self-Government Organizations, in order to introduce additional legislative regulations and revise its current provisions regarding the conduct of elections for the nomination of the presidents of the councils of the provincial self-government organizations. 30 voted in favor, 2 against, and there were 16 abstentions.
The fourth law amends the Law on Communities, so that, among other things, additional legislative regulations regarding the conduct of local government elections are introduced into it and some of its provisions are further revised, in order to make the implementation of the new action and operation framework of the communities more effective and community clusters. They voted in favor 42 against 2 and there were 2 abstentions. An amendment of DISY was also approved regarding the incompatibility of hourly employees of the school tax authorities of the communities. AKEL’s amendment was also approved so that the headquarters of the cluster would be determined during the first session of its council instead of during the first session of the joint affairs management council.
In his statement to the Plenary, the independent Member of Parliament Andreas Themistokleous expressed strong disagreement with the provision that does not allow candidates for the TA elections to be candidates for the European Parliament elections at the same time and said that such a thing is unthinkable and limits the electoral rights of the citizen, while it only happens in Cyprus. He tabled a relevant amendment to change this, which was however rejected.
The Member of Parliament of DIPA – Cooperation Marinos Musiouttas expressed the hope that with these arrangements and with other changes for the reform of the TA that will come before the summer, the reform will work with the aim of the TA being closer to the citizen, offering quality services and make greater savings.
DISY Member of Parliament Nikos Sykas said that his party will vote for the bills in their entirety, while he referred to DISY’s amendment for hourly workers in school administrations. According to her, after being elected as municipal councilors they will not be required to leave their permanent position.
AKEL Member of Parliament Aristos Damianou expressed the annoyance of the Parliament and the Interior Committee that these implementing laws do not come in time and the Parliament is asked to approve them under the pressure of time and before April 2 when the list closes. He added that this Parliament has learned not to change electoral laws on the eve of elections. He said that there are changes that affect even incumbent candidates but also the distribution of seats that had been agreed upon. He spoke of “lack of respect” and “breach of what was agreed” on the part of the Government.
Among other things, he said that with the amendments, the obligation to resign for existing mayors who are candidates for President of a Provincial Self-Government Organization, while putting candidate community leaders and community councils to argue about where the seat will go.
He said that the abolition of the obligation to resign takes a photo of the Mayor of Nicosia and it would be a political misstep to change the electoral landscape for existing candidates.
The President of EDEK Marinos Sizopoulos stated that today’s debate is taking place because there is a need to cover weaknesses, shortcomings, contradictions and problems of the bill that the Parliament voted two years ago, saying that EDEK was the only party that voted against and warned. He added that even today’s changes cannot improve the law to the desired extent, but drastic changes are needed. He noted that EDEK will abstain for this reason. He also predicted that there would be further problems with the reform.
The Member of Parliament of DIKO Pavlos Mylonas stated that what is being done with GeSY should not be done, which whenever it needs improvement “doctrines and ideologies are corrected”.
Mr. Musiouttas, responding to the resignation of the Mayor of Nicosia, stated that if he resigns, the one who will take over will be the deputy mayor who is a party member and is a candidate. He wondered if in this case it was not reprehensible.
Mr. Themistokleous referred to “oriental tricks” and expedients for those who insist that the Mayor of Nicosia resign and said that if the Mayor leaves, the Deputy Mayor will take over.
Mr. Sykas said that when the Government belatedly brings amendments to the number of municipal councilors it is natural that there will be a reaction. He also noted that even MPs do not resign when they are candidates.
Mr. Damianou noted that the deputies proved that they stand by their word and asked that those voted two years ago should not be altered today.