AN MP’s jibe that President Christofias is living in fantasy land triggered a heated row in parliament, one of the highlights of yesterday’s marathon session of the plenum, the last before summer recess.
During debate at the House, European Party deputy Ricos Erotocritou referred to the resignation this week of the entire board of CyTA (Cyprus Telecommunications Authority) which has been rattled by allegations of financial scandals.
The President now has to decide whom to select for the vacant board, with reports suggesting some of the previous board members could be re-appointed.
Earlier this year, parliament voted against CyTA taking part in the bid for the second licence for digital terrestrial television. The bill was referred back to parliament by the President Christofias, and with the House vetoing the referral, the bill has been sent to Supreme Court for judgement.
Bidding for the second digital license was suspended last week amid allegations of double-dealing between one of the remaining bidders and CyTA, which has pulled out of the auction.
Meanwhile allegations are flying that members of the CyTA board were selling pre-paid phone cards worth hundreds of thousands of euros for cash. And reports in the local press yesterday claimed that board members were using laundered money to buy apartment blocs.
MP Erotocritou said it was inconceivable that President Christofias could be reading about all these reports about ‘bags filled with cash’ and yet at the same time be pondering the re-appointment of the same board at CyTA.
“It looks like the President is in a state of nirvana,” Erotocritou deduced.
The comment sparked a furious response from deputy Nicos Katsourides of the ruling AKEL party.
Katsourides took offense with the term ‘nirvana’, which he said was an insult to the President as it suggested that Christofias is a substance abuser. The AKEL deputy demanded that Erotocritou recant immediately.
Unfazed, Erotocritou pressed on, clarifying that the President appeared to be in a state of ‘political nirvana’.
“No, I shall not withdraw. And I shall not allow you to speak to me anymore,” he barked at Katsourides who was interrupting his speech.
The AKEL MP then fired one last salvo, daring Erotocritou to repeat his comments in public outside the Parliament:
“I guarantee you, you’ll get sued,” said Katsourides.
Erotocritou wondered why a former CyTA board member, alleged to have sold pre-paid phone cards for cash, had not yet been called for questioning by the Unit for Combating Money Laundering.
Over 100 bills were on the plenum’s agenda yesterday, however discussion and voting was postponed on several items.
In another example of a tug of war between the executive and the legislature, parliament refused to back down on a bill postponing the launch of a new island-wide bus service until September.
Parliament voted last Thursday to approve the bill for the new scheme, but amended it to postpone the scheme’s launch until September.
Deputies argued that more time was needed to settle compensation disputes with those drivers choosing not to join the new bus company.
As the amended bill has not become law, the Communications Ministry has launched the new scheme on the basis of existing legislation.
The President has refused to sign the amendment into law and has sent it back to the House. As the body is likewise refusing to pass the bill without the amendment, the matter will now be settled at the Supreme Court.
The House yesterday also passed a law centralizing water policy through the creation of a new organization under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture. The new body will take over powers from District Officers and the Town Planning Authority and will have jurisdiction over water fees and penalties for wastage.
And by a majority, parliament gave the thumbs-up to a law which transfers management of the government public debt from the Central Bank to the Finance Ministry, in line with an EU directive.
