State budget rejected by the majority of Parliament for the first time

For the first time in 60 years since the foundation of the Republic of Cyprus, the state budget has been rejected by a parliamentary majority.

Specifically the voting was 24 in favor, 29 against and no abstention.

In favor of the government’s state budget voted the 18 deputies of ruling DISY party, 2 deputies of the right-wing Solidarity party, two deputies of the centre-right ‘Cooperation of Democratic Forces’ and 2 deputies of the extreme-right wing nationalist party ELAM.

Against voted the 16 deputies of AKEL, 6 deputies of the Democratic Party DIKO who were present, 3 deputies of social democratic EDEK, 2 deputies of the Ecologists, 1 deputy of the ‘Citizens’ Alliance’ and the independent deputy Anna Theologou.

It should be noted that before starting his speech in the House, the General Secretary of AKEL Andros Kyprianou, referring to extreme-right ELAM party, reminded them that the Courts in Greece ruled that ELAM’s fraternal party was ruled to be a criminal organization and its leaders are in prison.

More specifically, the General Secretary of AKEL referred to the branch of the criminal ‘Golden Dawn’ party in Cyprus, ELAM, whose President Nikos Michaloliakos, who once was a bodyguard of the leader of Golden Dawn and is now behind bars, attempted to deliver lessons on democracy.

“Before I begin my speech, let me comment on something that was said by ELAM, which lectured us on legality. I will simply tell them the following: the courts in Greece have ruled that their fraternal party is a criminal organization. Its leaders are in jail, while Golden Dawn MEP Lagos (Lagos in Greek means rabbit) is literally on the run. They themselves have criminal elements within their ranks, who were arrested here in Cyprus. So they cannot lecture us on legality. ELAM comes from DISY. This doesn’t surprise us. They will always be together,” he added.

This was a major political blow to the Anastasiades-DISY government’s machinations, scaremongering and blackmailing tactics. AKEL stood firm and maintained its long-standing principled position. The vote sent out a powerful message from the opposition for a change in the budget’s philosophy, but also for transparency in the stamping out of corruption to be strengthened. Furthermore, the vote demonstrates that the government is in conflict with the majority of parties, but also with society in general.

Despite rejecting the budget, MPs did authorize expenditure for the month of January, a contingency that allows the state to keep functioning.

AKEL through the Head of its Parliamentary Group Giorgos Loucaides denounced the government of “authoritarianism, despotism and arrogance”, recalling the referral and/or report by the President of the Republic of a series of laws passed by Parliament, such as on the issue of rents, unlawful clauses, foreclosures. He also accused the government of disrespecting political parties and institutions, recalling the government’s clashes with two Governors of the Central Bank and the former Attorney General, the dismissal of the Deputy Chief of Police, the forced resignation of Georgios Arestis and the ongoing attempt to dismiss the Auditor General.

The   AKEL Parliamentary Representative also denounced the government’s ridicule and defamation of groups of citizens, recalling the insulting references it made to doctors, nurses and teachers etc who were waging struggles for their rights. He also denounced the government’s anti-social policy, submitting a recent report issued by the EU to the House of Representatives, which shows that Cyprus is the third from bottom in the table with regards labour and social issues.