House votes to postpone refugee elections

THE HOUSE of Representatives plenum yesterday approved a controversial postponement of the first ever elections for the Pancyprian refugee committee, Pep.

The polling deferral comes after Election Service officials pointed out weaknesses and gaps in the Pep voting procedure approved by the plenum not so long ago.

Polling had been set for November 14, but deputies of all parties except Akel yesterday evening voted for a postponement.

Deputies for opposition Akel claimed governing Disy only wanted to put off the elections because of the Clerides government’s current low standing with voters.

The vote to postpone came after a lengthy and often heated plenum debate.

Deputies voted down an Akel proposal that the refugee committee convene for an emergency back-room session to iron out the voting procedure problems and let polling go ahead. An Akel amendment to the Pep elections law, designed to allow polling on November 14, was also thrown out.

Shortly before the final vote on whether to postpone, Akel spokesman Nicos Katsourides directed a humorous jibe at the Disy benches opposite: “You won’t be able to postpone the parliamentary elections, you

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