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Friday, March 29, 2024

The Anti-Corruption Authority took us 4 years…

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After four years of discussions, an Independent Anti-Corruption Authority is established.

Yesterday, the bill was first presented by the former Minister of Justice Ionas Nikolaou, in October 2017, also received the -registered- approval of the House of Representatives.

The plenary passed the law on the establishment and operation of the Authority, with 43 deputies in favor, while there were three abstentions (see deputies of the Green Movement).

This development was welcomed from the first moment , mainly from government circles.

Since Thursday night, DISY MP and chairman of the parliamentary Legal Committee Nikos Tornaritis hastened to express his satisfaction, through social media.

He described the day before yesterday as important for the Cypriot parliament and explained that “after many sessions (note 25 in total) and discussions, the bill on the establishment and operation of the Anti-Corruption Authority was finally passed.”

He concluded, noting: “I thank from the bottom of my heart all my colleagues, the Minister of Justice and all those who contributed to this important result.”

Drakou sees “Shielding” p>

Moreover, the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Stefi Drakou, in her written statement yesterday, commented that “an important step has been taken that paves the way for the restoration of the credibility of the institutions and the political system”.

He pointed out, also that the foundations have been laid for the “first institutional shielding of the state and society against corruption, with a strong legislative framework”.

Commenting on the passage of the two bills concerning the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority and the transparency of public decision-making processes, he said that in conjunction with the bill on the protection of whistleblowers that has already been passed, it has become “a good start that makes us optimistic.” ». He added that with these bills, transparency is achieved. Elsewhere in her speech, she said: “Our country is now on the list of the few European countries that have acquired a modern and comprehensive anti-corruption legal framework, which is in line with the requirements of the European Union and the Council of Europe.”

The government also expressed satisfaction. In a statement of the Presidency of the Republic, special reference is made to the adoption of the bill on the Protection of Witnesses of Public Interest and the bill on the establishment and operation of the Anti-Corruption Authority. Both, according to the announcement, constitute “important reforms that will make a decisive contribution to tackling corruption and promoting transparency and accountability, consolidating the rule of law in our country.”

that “the government expects that the Parliament will proceed in the near future with the passage of the critical bills concerning the other reforms, which are related to the modernization of the state, such as, for example, the reform of the Local Self-Government”. p>

A DISY statement also refers to the three bills for the Anti-Corruption Authority, Lobbying and the protection of whistleblowers and notes that “they are now a reality and prove the political will of the Anastasiadis government and the Democratic Alarm, to fight corruption and transparency to prevail “.

DIKO, in an official announcement, states that” the Authority demanded and succeeded in having real investigative and investigative powers, with the possibility of summoning witnesses and taking testimony “.

The other side

There is, of course, the other side of the coin. The report on the Ecologists, who tabled amendments (voted against) in order to ensure the independence and effectiveness of the Anti-Corruption Authority. “We express our strong dissatisfaction with the vote against the crucial amendment that we tabled in the plenary of the Parliament, and concerns the strengthening of the function of the Independent Authority against Corruption, by giving investigative powers”, it is noted in their announcement, while, in another point, states that “the Commission of Inquiry will have the power to call witnesses and take testimony, and that alone. The Authority, in no case, can conduct and complete a criminal investigation and present a case in court “. They conclude as follows: “Despite our hesitations, we will actively support the work of the Authority, and our first move will be to submit a bill that will include all the corrections and reinforcements that were not adopted by the other Members of Parliament during the debate.

  • The plenary unanimously voted in favor of an amendment by Kostis Efstathiou (EDEK), with the aim of deleting the provisions concerning the maintenance of a register of complaints. This includes information and personal data. Also, a sub-amendment of Andreas Passiourtidis (AKEL) was voted unanimously, according to which “it means that the Authority can request and receive information on the progress of the above cases from the Attorney General”.

Source: politis.com.cy

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