DISCUSSION of a bill to increase the number of deputies and raise the percentage of the vote necessary for entry into parliament kicked-off yesterday amid heated arguments, but little in the way of substance.
The proposal to increase deputies by seven – to 63 – and raise the minimum threshold of votes necessary for a political party to be represented in parliament to 3.5 per cent from 1.8 per cent, was submitted by AKEL and DISY – the two biggest parties — in a rare show of cooperation.
Members of the House Interior Committee yesterday basically reiterated their positions on the matter with AKEL and DISY trying to justify their proposal, while the two smallest parties, Greens and EVROKO – those with the most to lose from the proposed changes – once again expressed their opposition.
The session was marked by frequent heated arguments and the exchange of barbs between MPs.
DISY MP Ionas Nicolaou, said the parliament’s workload had increased, especially since EU accession in 2004.
“In two years we will have the EU presidency and we are still lagging behind on many issues,” Nicolaou said.
He said that even some countries smaller than Cyprus had more deputies.
But Nicolaou conceded that it did not seem acceptable to have this increase in expenditure at a time of economic crisis and suggested that it was accompanied by cuts elsewhere in parliament.
Discussion turned on procedural issues with EVROKO deputy Demetris Syllouris asking for a vote on whether the committee was authorised to discuss the matter.
Reporters and guests, including Attorney-general Petros Clerides were asked to leave the room so that MPs could discuss the issue behind closed doors.
It was not long after normal proceedings resumed that Syllouris accused committee chairman AKEL MP Giannos Lamaris of autocratic behaviour because of his “unacceptable” decision not to put the matter to the vote behind closed doors.
At some point Lamaris suggested that “if the proposal included only an increase in deputies it would have been applauded,” sparking loud protests from both the Greens and EVROKO.
The rise in the threshold, making it harder for small parties to get elected, is the main bone of contention, Lamaris said.
Discussion touched upon the fact that parliament cannot – it is against the constitution – make a decision that would increase the state budget.
But the committee also heard that the constitution allows parliament to vote to increase its members.
Clerides told deputies that he would look into the matter and give them an answer in the next session.
Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Lazaros Savvides told the committee that this was a matter for parliament and not his ministry.
“In the event that parliament decides to increase the number we will be at your disposal,” Savvides said.
