Filenews 19 November 2021 - by Vassos Vassiliou
The dessert may remain at the end of the table, but in the case of the reform of local government, the thorny issues such as the number of new schemes, the referendum, the number of councillors, etc. were left on the table for discussion and turbulence or even reversals are not excluded.
Especially the number of municipalities was a red line for the government, since it considers that the formula of the survival of municipalities does not come out with an increase in the number of new formations beyond 17. On the other hand, the reactions of local authorities, which are coming back these days, have led the parliamentary parties to orient themselves in the 20-21 municipalities, without missing those who observe that the world was not lost for a municipality up and down, referring even to 22 new schemes.
Yesterday, the Interior Minister, Nikos Nouris, responded diplomatically avoiding involving himself with numbers, but the message was clear. When asked if there are any red lines for the number of municipalities, Mr. Nouris replied that "it is not a matter of red lines but a matter of prevailing logic on the basis of argumentation and on the basis of studies made of course". It is recalled that the studies prefer 17 municipalities. "All of us want a self-government, which the next day will not face any problems and in order not to do this it should be governed by certain characteristics," he added.
In the "disputed" and how the municipal councillors will be elected, an issue that is considered crucial for the small parties, since under certain conditions and depending on the distribution, they may be left out of the nuptial chamber.
One of the positives of yesterday's discussion is that the government, parties and municipalities found that the dowry of the new schemes will amount to € 117 million. Annually. This decision overturns the strengthening of municipalities through registration certificates, since assurances had been given that revenues would amount to €120 million. when asked by the competent Department as to how much is the annual revenue, he said that they are around €100 so that immediately a deficit of about €20 million arose.
Yesterday, another important step was taken with regard to the District Councils which will consist of 16 members, of which ten will come from the municipalities and six from the communities. This approach, which is favoured by DISY and AKEL, somewhat gilds the pill towards the communities, since in addition to one additional member (instead of five they are increased to six) they also ensure the vice-presidency of the Councils and in the absence of the president (mayor) he will be replaced by a commune.
A proposal by the DIKO for equal participation in each Provincial Council of three technocrats by the State was rejected.
The Minister of Interior, Nikos Nouris, after the end of yesterday's session of the Parliamentary Committee on the Interior, referred to the spirit of consensus that prevailed, expressing satisfaction for the observance of the timetables for the approval of the reform bills.
He also referred to a productive session and convergences on a number of issues, noting that in a small number that need to be clarified.
He also said that next week's session will examine the outstanding issues and on November 29, the final positions on the Communities Law will be formulated.
At the same time, he threw the ball in the House, saying it was the time of the parliamentary parties. The government has shown that it has both the will and the desire to proceed on the basis of the agreed principles in the rationalization and reform of local government", he added.
Satisfied Vyras
The President of the Union of Municipalities, Mayor of Larnaka, Andreas Vyras, referred to the explicit commitment to support municipalities with €117 million. something that, as he said, satisfies the Union of Municipalities. For the School Ephorates, he said that after the transitional phase of five years provided for in the bill, they will pass to the municipal committees which will operate as School Ephorates.
On his part, the President of the Union of Communities, Commune of Kapedes, Andreas Kitromilidis, expressed the hope that the necessary convergences will be found on the outstanding issues concerning the communities.
We are approaching agreement, says Aristos Damianou
The chairman of the Interior Committee referred to "yet another step towards bridging differences on open issues of reform. As he said, there was a convergence on the issue of the loss of revenue from issues related to marketing authorisations, explaining that with special regulations the legislation will ensure that the Union of Municipalities will collect €117 million as was the initial consensus of the Ministry of Interior with the Union of Municipalities.
He also said that he has made it clear that the issues of the School Ephorates will be the subject of consultation during the transitional period with a five-year horizon within which the status of the regime will be differentiated and their subordination to the Local Government will take place.
He also said that all the issues concerning the financial aspect have been clarified and agreed by all stakeholders and ministries involved.
As he explained, for the meeting of 25 November, the issues of holding referendums, the merger of Local Authorities, the number of councillors, the process of electing mayors and aldermen and responsibilities, as well as other related issues, remain for discussion.
He also said that of the list of 15 issues that existed, nine have been agreed and the tenth has been agreed in principle. There are five more left pending.
Regarding the composition of the District Councils, he said that the ten members will come from the municipalities and 6 from the communities, which until yesterday participated with five members. Each council will be chaired by the metropolitan municipality and will be replaced by a representative of the communities. The parties, he said, reserve the right to table amendments.
DISY MP Nikos Sykas said that "the most important element of the session is that, out of the 15 open issues, only five have remained, while positive steps have been taken on the issue of responsibilities / relations between municipalities and communities.
