Filenews 4 March 2022 - by Vassos Vassiliou
The parties have been discussing the reform of municipalities for ten years and have been reduced from 30 to 20, while the government had the red line of 17 municipalities, warning that otherwise the new schemes would not be viable.
The reactions of mayors and generally local rulers with strong party backs overturned the policy of the government since instead of a reduction in the 17 municipalities, another one was added (Municipality of Aradippou), the Municipality of Geroskipou was maintained, which was abolished, the Municipality of Deryneia was absorbed by Paralimni, while the Municipality of Pegeia, which is united with different communities from those originally promoted, survived. In the end, the Government reacted jubilantly, welcoming the result.
It is worth noting, as the chairman of the House Standing Committee of the Interior Aristos Damianou mentioned in his speech, 45 long meetings were held to promote the reform and 150 changes were made to the local government bills.
Both the President of the Republic and the Minister of Interior described yesterday's day as historic for Cyprus and local government.
Mr. Nouris in a post said that "with consensus we have implemented yet another important reform for the citizens".
"I thank the parliamentary parties, my predecessor Ministers, the Union of Municipalities and the Union of Communities for their support and cooperation. Tomorrow in local government is promising", concludes the post of the Interior Minister.
Amendments to referenda and so on.
During yesterday's debate on the bill concerning the reform of municipalities, 50 amendments were also considered, some of which were withdrawn by the parties that tabled them.
Apart from the composition of the new municipalities, the issue of referendums was also interesting, but the DIKO left other opposition parties in the cold, since while for months it stressed through its parliamentary representative Panicos Leonidou that it would insist on referendums and while it submitted an amendment for the holding of a single referendum for all, it finally withdrew it, resulting in the passage of the DISY's proposal not to hold referendums. The non-holding of referendums passed with 29 votes in favour and 25 against.
An amendment by the DIKO, which was adopted by the total of the 54 MPs who were in the plenary chamber, accommodates the municipal councillors, whose number is increased to 30 from 26 today.
Another differentiation brought about by an amendment by EDEK, gives the right not only to the residents of a municipality to claim the mayoralty or to be elected municipal councillors, but also to workers within the boundaries of each municipality. The proposal was adopted unanimously. It is worth noting that EDEK in the end did not vote for the bills because a proposal for the adoption of simple proportional representation was not approved.
A proposal of the parties AKEL, EDEK, and Ecologists for free parking of electric vehicles was unanimously approved.
A provision of the DIPA was also approved, according to which, when a senior employee of a municipality is transferred to a municipality but it is not possible to be placed in a post on its scale, etc., he can switch to another municipality.
Amendments on the composition of municipalities
DISY's proposal for the inclusion of Strovolos Municipality in Nicosia Municipality was rejected by 33 votes to 23 in favour.
It was also rejected by 29 votes to 27, an amendment of AKEL for the renaming of the Municipality of Latsia to the Municipality of Athalassa with the addition of Aglantzia.
With 49 votes in favour, an amendment was approved on the basis of which the community of Agios Theodoros and Kato Drys were removed from the Municipality of Lefkara.
With another amendment, Kofinou was removed from the same municipality.
THESE ARE THE 20 MUNICIPALITIES
Nicosia District
> Nicosia Municipality, based in Nicosia, which consists of the municipalities of Nicosia, Agios Dometios, Aglantzia and Engomi.
> Municipality of Lakatamia, based in Lakatamia, which consists of the municipalities of Lakatamia and Tseri and the community settlement of Anthoupoli.
> Municipality of Latsia-Yeri, based in Latsia, which consists of the municipalities of Latsia and Yeri.
> Municipality of South Nicosia-Idalion, based in Idalion, which consists of the municipality of Idalion and the communities of Alambra, Lympia, Nisou, Pera Chorio and Potamia.
> Municipality of Strovolos.
Limassol District
> Limassol Municipality, based in Limassol, which consists of the municipalities of Limassol and Mesa Geitonia and the community of Tserkeza.
> Municipality of Eastern Limassol, based in Agios Athanasios, which consists of the municipalities of Agios Athanasios and Germasogeia and the communities of Agios Tychonas, Akrountas, Mathikolonis, Mouttagiakas, Finikaries and Armenochori.
> Municipality of Polemidia, based in Polemidia, which consists of the municipality of Kato Polemidia and the community of Ano Polemidia.
> Municipality of West Limassol, based in Ypsonas, which consists of the municipality of Ypsonas and the communities of Akrotiri, Asomatos, Episkopi, Erimi, Kantou, Kolossi, Sotira and Trachoni.
Larnaca District
> Larnaka Municipality, based in Larnaca, which consists of the municipalities of Larnaca and Livadia and the community of Voroklini.
> Municipality of Aradippou, based in Aradippou, which consists of the municipality of Aradippou and the communities of Kellia and Troulla.
> Municipality of Dromolaxia-Meneou, based in Dromolaxia, which consists of the municipality Dromolaxia-Meneou and the communities of Kition, Perivolia and Tersefanos.
> Municipality of Lefkara, based in Lefkara, which consists of the municipality of Lefkara and the communities of Vavla, Delikipos, Kato Lefkara, Kornos, Lagia and Skarinou.
> Municipality of Athienou, based in Athienou, which consists of the municipality of Athienou and the community of Avdelleros.
Pafos District
> Municipality of East Pafos, based in Geroskipou, which consists of the municipality of Geroskipou and the communities of Agia Marinouda, Acheleia, Konia and Timi.
> Municipality of West Pafos, based in Pegeia, which consists of the municipality of Pegeia and the communities of Akoursos, Inia, Kathika, Kato Arodes, Kissonerga and Pano Arodes.
> Municipality of Polis Chrysochous, based in Polis Chrysochous, which consists of the municipality of Polis Chrysochous and the communities of Agia Marina, Androliko, Argaka, Gialias, Drousia, Kritou Tera, Makountas, Neo Chorio, Nea Dimmata, Pelathousa, Pomos, Terra and Chrysochous.
> Paphos Municipality
Famagusta District
> Municipality of Ayia Napa, based in Ayia Napa, which consists of the municipalities of Ayia Napa and Sotira and the communities of Avgorou, Achna and Liopetri.
> Municipality of Paralimni-Deryneia, based in Paralimni, which consists of the municipalities of Paralimni and Deryneia and the communities of Acheritos and Frenarou
