Statement by Aristos Damianou, AKEL MP, after the meeting of the Parliamentary Internal Affairs Committee
16 September 2021, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
I would like to express my satisfaction with the level of debate that took place today in the Parliamentary Internal Affairs Committee. As we know, for several weeks now, there has been an open public discussion on whether or not to hold local government elections. We thought it right to put an end to this institutional uncertainty, which is damaging democracy itself and its quality. That is why it was agreed last week, given the government’s political position to postpone the elections and extend the terms of the existing local authority representatives, that the political forces should be given one week’s time to take a final position on the government’s proposal today.
I have to say that the central point of concern in the Internal Affairs Committee was common and unanimous. Namely, that the existing model of local government is outdated and that local government, unfortunately, as it stands today, is on its knees. It is facing serious problems and is unfortunately unable to respond to the contemporary needs of the state, but above all of citizens themselves. That is why the reform of local government is a social necessity. And it is precisely because this social necessity takes precedence, however painful some decisions may be, is the most important factor in the balance between holding elections or extending the terms of the existing Councils, and looking at the big picture, it seems that the parties are in favour of postponing the elections, by a majority, I must say by an overwhelming majority.
As far as AKEL is concerned, guided by the sole criterion of the need to complete the debate and with the aim of implementing the reform of local government by May 2024, we are ready to support the proposal to postpone the elections and extend the terms of office. I must say that we have simultaneously co-decided in the Internal Affairs Committee that we shall start the debate immediately, as of 30th September with the aim of completing the entire effort or if possible before the start of the debate on the State Budget for 2022, around the end of November 2021.
It is a difficult task, but the ball is in our court. We need consensus, dialogue and we don’t need absoluteness. Every political force, including AKEL, has its own views and positions. We are entering this dialogue in a good spirit. I want to give credit to the fact that, with its previous composition, the Internal Affairs Committee has collectively covered a great deal of ground, making our work easier. There are still some pending issues and disagreements that we need to focus on and we shall do so.
