Supreme Court to decide on corruption bill

By Martin Hellicar

THE fate of a controversial anti-corruption law that would force public figures to declare their assets is set to be decided by the Supreme Court.

The House of Representatives plenum yesterday approved the bill for the second time in a month, after it was referred back to the body by President Glafcos Clerides.

This means Clerides – who maintains many of the bill’s provisions are unworkable and unconstitutional – is now likely to exercise his right to challenge the constitutionality of the bill before the Supreme Court.

During the often repetitive debate on the issue yesterday, many deputies agreed with the President’s appraisal of the law and said the matter might as well be left to the island’s top court.

If the President didn’t appeal to the Supreme Court then some citizen affected by the new law would be sure to, Diko deputy Tassos Papadopoulos argued. Disy deputy and self-declared anti-corruption crusader Christos Pourgourides countered that leaving the matter to the judgment of the Supreme Court was tantamount to the House reneging on its duties.

Eleven deputies of governing Disy voted in support of the President’s referral back to the House, but 26 deputies from opposition parties Akel, Diko, Edek and the United Democrats voted against.

The bill provides for the periodic publication in the government gazette of the full assets of deputies, cabinet members, judges, top ministry officials and the owners and editors of all media outlets. The aim of the legislation is to prevent public figures abusing their position for personal financial gain.

Clerides, basing himself on the advice of Attorney-general Alecos Markides, has argued that it violates the right to privacy and could compromise the independence of judges.

The bill – which has been on the table for over a decade – was first approved on June 10, under the pressure of growing public concern about corruption in high places. The unlawful enrichment allegations which recently forced Dinos Michaelides to resign as Interior Minister had brought the issue to the fore.

But the saga of the anti-graft law now seems set to continue.

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