Michalis Hadjivasilis
Two crucial bills related to corruption are currently before the Plenary Session of the Parliament, which are expected to be approved after amendments. These relate to the establishment of an Independent Anti-Corruption Authority and the control of lobbying.
The parties DISY and EDEK will submit an amendment in relation to the bill for the Anti-Corruption Authority which, according to the chairman of the Legal Committee Nikos Tornaritis, will concern the obligation of the Advisory Council to attend a closed session of the Legal Committee on which will inform about the persons it has reached as a candidate for appointment to the Authority. Then, he said, the Parliament will send the list to the Council of Ministers, which will proceed with the appointment of the five people who will constitute the Authority.
Asked whether the amendment was deemed unconstitutional for violating the principle of separation of powers, Mr Tornaritis said any amendment could be deemed unconstitutional, adding that the President himself had stated at a meeting at the Presidential Palace that it was ready to respect any decision of Parliament and is not going to refer back to any legislation.
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He also said that another important development that has taken place is that the chairman of the Advisory Board will always be a retired judge of the Supreme Court, who will be appointed by the Supreme Court. “We are presenting before the Plenary Session of the Parliament a real, first and foremost, Independent Authority against Corruption, which no one, no one, can dispute,” he said. He added that the Advisory Council will consist of the president who will be a retired Supreme Judge and members the president of the Academy of Letters and Arts, the president of the Pancyprian Bar Association, the president of the Association of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus and Prytas.
AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtidis said that regarding the amendment to the Anti-Corruption Authority, at first sight it seems to serve and amuse the party's concerns. However, he stated that the final decision will be given before the Plenary Session of the Parliament. As for the bill on control of lobbying, the parties have some reservations, but it seems that it will be voted in favor.
Yesterday, after a long time, the Legal Committee dealt with the package of eight bills that regulate the relations between parents and children, as well as the spouses in case of divorce, so that it is in the interest of the children. The Ministry of Justice informed the Commission that it would submit revised texts of the bills after consulting the stakeholders.
