Filenews 1 February 2022 - by Vassos Vassiliou
The possible pre-election collaborations will ultimately determine the outcome of the reform of the Local Government and the scenarios developed yesterday for the abolition of up to three municipalities (Deryneia, Geroskipou and Polemidia) may be blown up in the air by any wider collaborations for the presidential elections. What passed yesterday, by a majority, by the Parliamentary Committee of the Interior, is the addition to the 20 municipalities that are already under discussion, of another municipality and specifically the Municipality of Aradippou.
The abolition of the three municipalities aims to reduce their number to the 17 desired by the Government and thus began the "cut-sew" to resolve the matter. In this context, the issue was raised of the abolition of the Municipality of Deryneia (by its incorporation into the Municipality of Paralimni) which is controlled by AKEL, which considers such a development to be the cause of war. The integration is supported by MPs of DISY, DIKO and DIPA.
It is worth noting that based on the trend that is formed, AKEL loses the Municipality of Deryneia, which is incorporated in Paralimni. The incorporation of Deryneia into another municipality is said to be favoured by DISY, DIKO and DIPA.
Specifically for the Municipality of Deryneia and without naming it, the MP of AKEL, Aristos Damianou, said that the party's position is that "the existing scenarios serve a balance that exists: Economic, geographical and political, in the sense of national. And I am referring specifically to semi-occupied municipalities, which are provided for in the scenarios and there are thoughts of differentiations.
AKEL theoretically loses the Municipality of Ypsonas, which it had hopes of winning in future matches. At the same time, DISY literally at the last minute, adds the Municipality of Aradippou which it takes for granted that it will win.
At the same time, the possibility of integrating Geroskipou into the Municipality of Pafos is being considered, while in Paphos some communities that would be united in Peyia, seem to remain outside the new schemes and it is not excluded that the recommendation of the Ecologists for an Akamas Municipality under the umbrella of Peyia will be adopted.
A question mark is whether Strovolos Municipality will be united with Lakatamia (which is currently controlled by AKEL) or whether it will be united with Nicosia Municipality or even whether it will remain autonomous.
According to the same information, an attempt not to integrate Aglantzia into Nicosia did not pass.
The scenarios that are set
Based on what is currently in force, before the Plenum of the Parliament on February 24, scenarios will be set for 20 municipalities or even 21 if Aradipou is added.
In order for the number of 17 municipalities to emerge, three of the 20 proposed by the Parliament should be removed (Municipality of Deryneia, Municipality of Geroskipou and Municipality of Polemidia). If Aradippou is added to the 17, the number will increase to 18, so in order to balance the situation, Strovolos will have to be merged with another municipality. But if in the end nothing is differentiated with Strovolos and the municipalities are formed at 18, many say that the government "will not burn the quilt for the flea", in the sense that it will not torpedo the reform of the Local Government for an additional municipality, especially if it will favour the ruling party.
Of course, it should be noted that the above did not involve pre-election expediency or alliances and until the 24th the situation can be radically changed. Until the discussion of the three bills of the reform of local government before the Plenum of the Parliament, it is expected that the reactions from local councillors who are affected by the distribution of municipalities or the integration into them of several communities are expected to intensify. In fact, as we are informed, the messages from communes and mayors to MPs "gave and received" during yesterday's session.
Provision for local referenda
After its conclusion, the President of the Committee, Aristos Damianou, stated that through the discussion and the submission of specific proposals for a possible reduction of municipalities in all provinces, the question of scenarios and the number of municipalities remains open. These are issues that will be the subject of amendments in plenary.
There have been significant convergences, mainly in additions made to the scenarios themselves, with regard to some communities, especially in the Pafos district, to make some municipalities more robust, more efficient and economically more sustainable, he said.
Concern about a possible reduction of municipalities by parliamentary groups was expressed for all provinces.
On the contentious issues, he said: "At present and in principle, the provision for holding local referenda is maintained. There are, he said, specific amendments, which literally identify local referenda. That is, to be local, per community or per city. There is another approach that says that referendums should be held on a case-by-scenario basis and should be about the specific unions, i.e. if there are 20 municipalities there should be 20 referendums and of course there is also the position not to hold referendums."
On the issue of aldermen, he said provision has remained for their election by the municipal districts from which they come. As for the election of councillors, he referred to an "important addition to the debate, which", as he explained, is subject to the approval of the parliamentary groups of the parties. "This provision, as opposed to the current system and in order to facilitate the election of candidates of smaller parties with lower percentages, provides that in the second distribution there will be no ceiling, nor the condition of a seat being occupied by parties that had occupied a seat from the first distribution."
DISY MP Nikos Sykas reiterated his party's positions, expressing the hope that by February 24th the parties will be led to the plenum with the maximum possible majority. He expressed the certainty that the reform of local government will be followed by other reforms that our country really needs.
The Member of Parliament for Ecologists, Alexandra Attalidou, stood on the adoption of an amendment "which will make the distribution of councillors more democratic and will also represent people who may come down as one group in every election".
