Filenews 16 September 2021
In the form of urgency, the proposal to postpone the municipal elections and to extend the term of office of the already elected local authorities until the implementation of the reform of local self-government is being taken to the plenary session in the afternoon, which will begin at 3 p.m.
The Minister of Interior Nikos Nouris told the Interior Committee today that at yesterday's meeting the Council of Ministers approved three amending bills that, if adopted, will allow the extension of the mandate of the elected local authorities. These procedural bills were tabled in plenary in the form of urgency.
During the session, MPs from the three major parties DISY, AKEL and DIKO supported the postponement of the elections and the adoption of a tight timetable for the approval of the bills of local government reform, most likely by next December.
The President of the Committee Aristos Damianou suggested that the Committee begin on September 30th a systematic examination of the bills with a very closed horizon for the completion of the efforts.
The House Standing Committee on the Interior began the article-by-article discussion of the three procedural bills, which will be brought to plenary in the afternoon.
The Minister of Interior also mentioned that through the consultation the Government has realized that the arguments for extending the term of office of those currently elected to the local government prevail. He also said that alongside this there should be a commitment of government and legislature, "a contract of honour to the citizens" for an immediate passage of the reform.
The Government, he said, is ready to consent to be given an additional time to complete the process of the three bills.
Regardless of day and time
According to statements made by the Minister of Interior after the meeting of the Interior Committee, during the session the parties committed to an intensive dialogue on the bills from September 30, regardless of the days and hours, until November 30th, which based on what Mr. Nouris said, we should have the final passage of the three pieces of legislation for the Local Government Department.
He also noted that, it has never been an end in itself for the government to extend terms or diversify the process, however this is necessary in order not to cancel the reform, which, as he recalled, should be operational in May 2024, so that there is no problem with the disbursement of European funds.
