Filenews 18 March 2021
The positive attitude of the DISY to the Government's proposal to hold a referendum on the reform of Local Government at the same time as the parliamentary elections, was welcomed by Interior Minister Nikos Nouris after a meeting he had with a party delegation under President Averof Neophytou.
In statements after the meeting, Mr. Nouris said that in the context of informing the parliamentary parties he had a discussion today with the President and the Members of the Democratic Alarm whom he informed of the government's proposal to promote to the House of Representatives a proposal to hold a pancyprian referendum during and on the day of the parliamentary elections so that in addition to the debate that has been taking place for several years in the House of Representatives , to also present the opinion of the sovereign people as the referendum law stipulates.
"We have also informed that in addition to the need for a referendum that largely reflects the positions of the majority of parliamentary parties, there is another parameter that imposes and requires the promotion of this important reform. The fact that the European Commission has links and has prioritised the reform of Local Government very high on its priorities and puts it as a precondition for the disbursement of the very important amount for our country, amounting to the 968 million provided for by the recovery fund," he said.
Mr Nouris spoke of an additional need to promote reform, on the one hand, in order to make this very large modernisation effort for the local community and, on the other hand, to proceed seamlessly with disbursement from the recovery fund.
"The response on the part of the Democratic Alarm has been positive, we welcome this attitude and we conclude our meetings with the parliamentary parties today in the hope that there will be this positive attitude of the parliamentary parties so that together we can put into practice what the citizens are asking for, namely a modernised self-government, a self-government that can provide better quality services at the lowest possible cost." Said.
For her part, MP Xenia Konstantinou thanked Mr Nouris and congratulated him on his perseverance, his consistency in implementing the reform of local government. A reform, he added, which would bring additional modernisation, additional quality and cheaper services to citizens, which is why from the outset his proposal for a single, universal referendum together with the parliamentary elections was something that we viewed positively and positioned positively.
On behalf of DISY, Parliamentary Representative Nikos Tornaritis, MP Xenia Konstantinou and MP Giorgos Karoullas attended the meeting.
Source: eyenews/CYPE
Footnote: Still no announcement from the Cypriot Government whether post-Brexit UK expats will retain their ability to vote in local elections. Some other European countries announced some time ago that their residents would retain their vote. I have been trying to obtain a decision for over 12 months now and yet another email has been sent today to Mr Nouris, the Minister of the Interior as the matter is now urgent given the possible local government referendum at the end of May! I have also raised the question of other third country nationals who are resident here and own property, voting in local elections and I am awaiting a decision on this also.
