Filenews 21 November 2025 - by Theodora Nikolaou
The Plenary Session of the Parliament rejected, with 28 votes against, 2 abstentions and 10 votes in favour, the government bill that would regulate the traditional custom of lambratzia through the institutionalization of the licensing process of its preparation and lighting.
The debate was held in a strong style with the views of the MPs differing.
Initially, DIKO MP Zacharias Koulias described the sentences as exterminating which - as he said - no judge imposes. He wondered if "we will solve the problem of youth delinquency by solving the issue with draconian legislation?" Elsewhere we have to dry our eyes. I consider the law very unfortunate and that is why I will vote against it," he added.
Charalambos Theopemtou, taking the floor, referred to the Stockholm Convention, talking about persistent organic pollutants, which come out when we burn materials from specific industrial uses and can cause serious problems to our health. As he said, in a report of the Republic of Cyprus to the UN, it is stated that the pollutants in Cyprus arise because we have fires in the garbage dumps, because we burn vegetable waste or agricultural waste and because of the lamps. "That's why when you go next time to eat souvlaki and often kleftiko, know that that fat you will eat, know that those obsessive pollutants came from the lamps," he added. "Those of you who will vote for the law should know what damage you are going to do to your country, to our young people and especially to breastfed babies," he concluded.
Alexandra Attalidou said that "this custom has become an antisocial phenomenon, creating outbreaks of delinquency in the name of a religious custom. They even burn EAC piles. Residents near churches experience increased levels of noise pollution, while the risk of fires is high. We see five-storey lampshades in residential areas and no one dares to do anything under the pretext of tradition. One day neighbourhoods will burn and we will cry. The bill is a step for control and I will vote for it just so that there is no pretext and we can see this uncontrollable situation again this Easter." If we see the same phenomena, it should be banned the following year, he continued.
MP Andreas Themistocleous began by saying "listening to Mr. Theopemptou made me want to go out and commit suicide". Furthermore, he said that there is problematic language in the bill. "There is no local administration," he explained. He also asked whether or not lambratzia is a custom and replied that it is a custom of about 15 centuries. "It is a pan-Hellenic and pan-Orthodox custom. The law says that it is only allowed to light lamps at 12 midnight on Holy Saturday. Can anyone check the time of lighting the fire? It says 20 meters from the church. In the church of Agios Georgios in Pachna, the Committee took care of it and made a special space. It cannot be applied at 20 meters because there is a cliff. It cannot be implemented. It is a provocative provision. We put the responsibility on the local authorities to control and if it remains unquenchable it will have to pay a fine of €20.000 and up to 5 years in prison," he said. "Who sits and writes such laws?", he asked. " The duration should be a maximum of 2 hours, because if it is longer there is 5 years in prison and a fine of €30,000. Not even during the Turkish occupation did such laws exist," he added. No one can ensure its implementation. At some point we have to learn that we should not legislate everything. I am not going to vote for stupid laws," he concluded.
In turn, Elias Myrianthous completely agreed with Mr. Themistocleous. We are going to regulate something that is impossible in terms of who will implement it, he continued. We in Paphos have the custom of doing the paskies. "I hope we don't get to the point where we are told how many eggs to put in it," he continued. "Once in Greece they tried to impose on them how to make kokoretsi. That's what we're going to do now," he added.
ELAM MP Sotiris Ioannou stressed that "the custom needs to be preserved. Of course, in a context of security, but its existence should not be threatened and its symbolism should be preserved. The bill does not convince us. The organizer can only be a municipality or community and a parish committee. Initially, there was also the possibility for a natural person to be the organizer. Which municipality or which commissioner will put its head down to make the custom happen? We have exterminating sentences. For example, in a community or a small church where there is a small space where the custom was done safely for so many years, but they failed to secure approval, the law speaks of 5 years in prison or a fine of €25,000 or both. We may victimize people who have the best intentions," he said.
Christiana Erotokritou of DIKO reminded that last year we had a dead 25-year-old in the lampratzies and 94 fires throughout Cyprus from the custom. "We want our youth to practice customs. But we don't want hooded people to endanger the lives and properties of citizens who are honest. This bill protects those who want to follow and practice our customs," he continued.
AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtidis reminded that "today the lighting of the lamp is completely prohibited. If cities and villages were in danger, it means that the state did not do its job properly. Because if he applied the law, he would put out all the fires." "Does the unwillingness or inability of the state to implement the law bring about an unenforceable law? " Do you think that we will supply the local authorities with measures to make the 20 meters count? Which municipality will supply 60 lampshades 3 meters in diameter and height with clean timber and even supervise when it will turn on or when it will go out?" he asked. "This legislation is ridiculous and unenforceable. We cannot participate in this fiasco. But we will not give anyone the right to accuse us of being the reason why this legislation was the reason for there to be delinquent behaviours. That is why AKEL will refrain from this joke," he stressed.
In his statement before the Plenary, the chairman of the Legal Committee, DISY MP, Nikos Tornaritis, stressed that if the law is not passed, the lampratzias will be illegal and he will be sentenced to five years in prison. He then said that "but you did not come to the Committee to say what you are saying today", causing the reaction of Aristos Damianos. He went on to say that last year "we mourned a young man. He was killed with a stake. All of you who declare that you will abstain or vote against this very problematic (I admit it first) legislation, what will you say to the parents of the next dead person or to the one who will lose his eyes or his arms or his legs? That it bothered us that the one who breaks the law will pay a heavy fine? Because we have elections in a short time?", he said in a strong tone. He reiterated that "the MPs who were not present at the meeting of the Committee can say what they want and may be right. I am tabling an oral amendment so that the 20 measures are gone. Many issues are raised. But above all, we must protect human life." "If the Government and the local authorities do not implement the law, you will be here – I will not be – to change it. I vote for it," he concluded.
In turn, Stavros Papadouris stated that since in the law on municipalities lampratzia is prohibited, then if we did not vote for it we will be accountable. Is there a logic, he added, that says that since it is prohibited, why should we vote for something at this time? "We will not support it because it is illegal," he added, saying that science raises its hands.
Aristos Damianou said that things are simple, explaining that in the law on municipalities, in the prohibitions in relation to the lighting of fires, there is an exception after a special permit of the municipality which is granted in exceptional cases. So, as he said, there are specifications for lighting the bonfire. "We can improve the provisions in the law on municipalities and communities," he continued.
Update -
The Parliament's negative vote on the law on lampratzias did not just leave a serious pending issue unanswered, but essentially left pending and unresolved a long-standing issue that would serve the common interest, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Justice and Public Order.
It is reported that the discussion on this bill highlighted with absolute clarity, a deep political contradiction that "while some political parties and MPs talk about responsibility, in this case they chose evasion".
The Ministry notes that the Government, recognizing the seriousness of the phenomena that in recent years have evolved into dangerous and uncontrollable incidents, has submitted a comprehensive and elaborated legislative proposal.
He also recalls that the competent Legal Committee, after months of detailed processing and public consultation, "considered that the framework is necessary, mature and applicable".
"Nevertheless, some political parties and MPs chose a different path today, at a time when they themselves, with announcements and statements, highlighted the need to address the issue," the Ministry states.
According to the Ministry, this attitude raises reasonable questions and wonders if they deny that there is a need for regulation, if they believe that the state can be left without the necessary tools and how they will be positioned the next time there is an injury or diversion.
"Who will take responsibility then? The position of all Municipalities, Communities and the Church has been clear: regulation is necessary. Today, the parties and MPs who voted against essentially ignored the concerns and worries of everyone and especially the institutions that experience the sad reality every year", the Ministry concludes.
