AKEL led the effort for the Reform of Local government

 

Not holding local referenda is a disadvantage

Statement by AKEL C.C. Press Office Giorgos Koukoumas

4 March 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The approval of the Reform of Local government represents a big step for the country towards so that we can have real Local Government serving the people, with strong powers, administrative and financial autonomy and an enhanced voice and role for citizens themselves.

AKEL – in Parliament, local government and local communities – has been at the forefront of this effort. AKEL worked and cooperated, asserted and achieved consensus. We put the stamp of the Left on the philosophy of reform through more than 100 proposals AKEL submitted that were adopted.

The disadvantage remains that the Left’s position – supported by the Ecologists and socialdemocrats of EDEK – on holding local referendums was not approved by the majority. We believed and still believe that the local communities themselves had every right to have their say on the future of their Municipalities and communities.

There are now great prospects for local government in Cyprus, through the reform we have achieved, and the government has a duty to focus on and ensure its implementation.