MPs are routinely failing to turn up to committee meetings and plenary discussion sessions in adequate numbers, it emerged yesterday.
In some cases less than half the required number of MPs is turning up to weekly committee meetings, in which they discuss new legislation and present their constituents’ views.
George Perdikis, Green Party deputy, said yesterday: “At the Environmental Committee meeting, which happens every Thursday at noon, as few as four MPs are there at the start. By the time the meeting ends, it is sometimes just me and the Parliamentary President.”
While Environmental Committee meetings are generally among the least attended, the problem appears to be widespread, and even extends to the plenary.
Plenary days, usually Thursdays are divided into two sessions; the morning session in which the bulk of committees meet and the afternoon plenary session for discussion and voting where all 56 deputies are expected to attend.
Christos Pourgourides, Deputy of the House of Representatives, said: “The problem is that most people leave before the second session, when discussions are raised. Of the 56 MPs, maybe only 15 or 20 turn up.”
MPs attribute the low attendance to a variety of factors, such as the need to put in face time with the public, travelling away from Parliament or the poorly designed timetable, which means MPs have to prioritise the more pressing committees, such as Finance and Economics.
Pourgourides said: “Most members leave the house after the bills are discussed. In Cyprus, MPs are not re-elected because they do a successful job in Parliament. They are re-elected based on their success with people outside. Therefore, they take every opportunity to meet people outside parliament and attend speeches.”
One part of the problem is that a many meetings are crammed in on a Thursday, while none are held on a Friday. This means a great deal of rushing between sessions and, according to Perdikis, tired out MPs being forced to break away for snacks and sleeping. He said “For many MPs these meetings are secondary priorities, and they do not have such high expectations from or reasons to attend these meetings.
Stella Kyriakidou, Chair of Parliamentary Health Committee, was keen to play down the reports. She said: “I think a blanket statement that MPs are failing to turn up does not tell the whole story.”
Kyriakidou explained that there were various reasons for the low attendance. “I am not saying that nobody is avoiding responsibilities, but many are often away travelling away from Parliament or attending other meetings.”
Asked how to resolve the issue, Pourgourides said “What else is there to do apart from push them to attend and remind them it is their duty. There is a rule that says if MPs miss more than three meetings without good reason, then the House can impose fines. However, this has never been done since Cyprus gained independence. There is no indication that this would work.”
“At this moment, it won’t change until voters’ attitudes change, and they start to vote in people who do their job.”
Perdikis, who has spoken out in favour fines, said: “I’ve been told that this would harm the image of the House, but, as a colleague pointed out, what kind of image does an empty parliament present?”
