Confusion over House replacement for newly-elected AKEL MEP

A GLITCH emerged yesterday over who would take the seat of AKEL deputy Adamos Adamou in the House of Representatives following his elections as Member of the European Parliament.

Initial reports said that the seats of the three deputies who were elected MEPs would be taken over by three women, who were next on the preference lists of their respective parties at the parliamentary elections of May 2001.

Adamou, along with DISY deputy Panayiotis Demetriou and DIKO deputy Marios Matsakis would have been replaced by Stella Mishiaouli, Katy Cleridou, and Athina Kyriakidou respectively.

And though Cleridou and Kyriakidou have secured their seats, a problem yesterday appeared concerning Mishiaoulli, with confusion over whether she had received more votes than the next AKEL runner-up Pambis Kyritsis.

The issue was discussed yesterday by the Nicosia district officer and the Interior Ministry, which did not rule out the involvement of the legal services.

In a related development, the director of Parliament, Costakis Christoforou, said that the three replacements could not be sworn in before July 20, the date on which the island’s MEPs take office.

But the last plenary session is scheduled for July 15 and an additional session could be necessary to swear in the newcomers.

Christoforou said the issue would be discussed with the House president Demetris Christofias.

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