The President’s decision to refer the Enosis Bill is above all a political decision with obvious objectives
Statement by Stefanos Stefanou, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 25th April 2017, Nicosia
The decision of the majority of the House of Representatives to approve the celebration of Enosis Day in schools was a mistake that was acknowledged by both the President of the Republic and DISY. Despite the fact that AKEL did not agree with the content of the draft Law tabled by DISY to correct the mistake committed, it supported it in order for the negotiation procedure to resume, which is the only way to solve the Cyprus problem.
The sudden and incomprehensible action by the President of the Republic to refer the bill to the Supreme Court raises justifiable questions. If the President of the Republic had doubts about the constitutionality of DISY’s proposal, why didn’t he consult with his Party during this whole period, within the context of the intense discussions that were going on?
We point out that the President was not obliged to refer the Bill. According to the decisions of the Supreme Court, it is a right and not an obligation of the President to refer Bills of the House, even when the Attorney General states that they are unconstitutional.
Therefore, the President’s decision was above all a political decision with obvious objectives. He himself is called upon to deal with any possible implications. We as AKEL did what we could, if not even beyond the call of duty as well, to correct the mistakes committed by others, including that of the President’s own Party.
