Filenews 9 December 2021 - by Vassos Vassiliou
Second thoughts seem to have been made about the number of municipalities in the context of the reform of Local Government and after the shock of the intention to reduce them to five, the government scenario of 17 municipalities is coming back.
The president of DISY, Averoff Neophytou, with yesterday's statements, supported the solution of the 17 municipalities, although he left open the possibility of a smaller number, stating that if such a proposal is submitted, "DISY is present".
Moreover, the Minister of Interior, Nikos Nouris, who discussed the issue yesterday with the president of the Union of Municipalities, Andreas Vyras, is reportedly satisfied with the 17 municipalities, while he also reportedly made it clear that he has no intention of submitting amended bills. He also stated that, "possible amendments are up to the House. On the other hand, although some mayors see with half an eye the reduction of the number of municipalities below the 20-21 that the Parliament is debating, the majority was relieved by the reintroduction of the scenario of 17 Municipalities. The solution of the 17 Municipalities is considered relatively painless in terms of the modifications that would require the reduction of municipalities to five".
Of course, the final number of municipalities will be the product of consultation and take a look at the parties.
Yesterday, Averoff Neophytou did not fail to criticize AKEL, which in recent days had attributed expediency to DISY regarding the intention to reduce the municipalities to five. In his statements in Limassol and when asked about it, the president of DISY initially stated:
"Look, in this place there is a party, AKEL, that I respect both the party and its ideologies. But I will never accept their propaganda. We said and we mean it, we will make a radical reform in local government. They started from 14 municipalities, they insisted, the interior ministry came and said maximum 17, otherwise it will not be reform. They entered the Interior Committee, cut and sewed the AKEL, presented 20-21, talk about 22 municipalities. But if I am to reform, I have 30 to make them 22, you know there is a proverb, the expenses of the wedding the bride does not deserve. What reform should I do? That is why we remain and send the message clear: We will have reform, the maximum number will be 17 based on the scenarios submitted by the Ministry of Interior. If there is a majority in the House even more radical, we are also talking about less than 17."
Red line of DISY the 17 municipalities
When asked to answer whether the municipalities will be 14 as proposed by DIPA, the president of DISY, replied:
"I repeat, we support the government bill. Any proposal with fewer than 17, the Democratic Rally declares itself present. Without intrigue and lessons from the cathedra, AKEL should now give us lessons on reforms. The permanent power of conservatism that puts obstacles in the way of anything modernizing in this place."
We are not reforming either for the mayors or for the parties, he added and continued: "We are doing the reform for the citizens. The fewer the municipalities, the more financially robust they are, the less the citizens will pay and the better they will enjoy."
Asked how the position of the Interior Ministry for the five metropolitans came about, Mr. Neophytou remarked that the initial study of the English experts, talked about five metropolitan municipalities and the possibility to create some rural municipalities.
Mr. Neophytou also said the following: "I will not get lost in the details, I said the position, we support the government bill as it was tabled for 17 municipalities and we have to choose between some options for the 17, but the number remains 17. No discussion nor for 17.5. Beyond that, if there is a political will for even more radical reform, we should finish in a few weeks' time.
When it was indicated to him that the Democratic Rally asked for a deadline to put amendments and when asked where they would move, Mr. Neophytou said:
"AKEL formulated a bill of its own with the interior minister disagreeing. Neither the Democratic Rally, nor the Minister of Interior, nor the Government with the cuts and sewings of AKEL ever agreed. Not on the basis of what the citizens want, but on the basis of what may be in the interest of Hezekiah Papaioannou. That's not the way we're doing reforms."
AKEL does not change its position where the wind blows
The statements of the president of DISY were followed by a statement by AKEL in which it is stated that "the Averoff Neophytou, adopting the tactic of ''better defense is the attack'', tried to justify the government's regressions for the reform of local self-government. With his well-known intrepidity, he spoke of AKEL's propaganda that puts obstacles in the way of modernization".
"Unfortunately, for Averoff Neophytou," the announcement continues, "the place is small and we know each other." "So we all know who is putting the brakes on the reforms, with the most sad example being the GHS, which was undermined from within, with the President of DISY even leading the way. Averoff Neophytou wants the reform of local government as much as the GHS wanted".
And AKEL's announcement concludes:
"AKEL supports the reform of Local Government and proves it in practice. It does not change its position where the wind blows, nor does it unearth proposals that were discussed 7 years ago. Everything else is cheap communication tricks that try to justify yet another government retreat and the haggling backstage with the well-known protagonists."
