FORMER Akel deputy Andreas Philippou is expected officially to join the Social Democrats (Kisos) today, but his defection has sparked discussion on the ethics of his move.
House president and Diko leader Spyros Kyprianou yesterday said deputies were not legally tied to their parties, but that ethical questions were attached to any moves.
Akel deputy and president of the House Ethics Committee Andreas Christou said the issue was one of political ethics, but Kisos deputy Takis Hadjidemetriou said the matter was not serious since Philippou was remaining on the left of the political spectrum.
Kyprianou said the issue was not a new one had even involved his own party: "My position on moving is known… On paper these things can happen. A deputy can change party, but ethically it does not stand."
Deputies Katerina Pantelidou-Paschalidou and Alexis Galanos have both left Diko in recent years, Pantelidou defecting to Disy and Galanos founding his own movement before retiring from politics last year. Maverick deputy Marios Matsakis has also walked out from Diko only to return at a later date.
Akel’s Christou said that in previous discussions on issue, the Committee had concluded that as things stood no candidate could be elected as an independent on the current proportional system of party lists.
"The other thing we mostly decided on," he added, "is that the parties should not encourage or even tolerate this type of defection because our democratic state — as expressed through the parties and our parliament — is impaired."
Christou said the Committee agreed the issue was not a constitutional one and had "more to do with political ethics".
He said a message had to be given "that the seat does not belong to the deputy but, ethically and rightfully, to the party."
Deputies are elected from party lists, but voters can cast preference votes for individuals on the list.
But Hadjidemetriou – whose Kisos is preparing to welcome the Akel defector — played down the issue saying Philippou’s move from a communist to a socialist party meant "there is no conflict with regards to ideology and political convictions".
Philippou announced last month he would be leaving Akel, saying he was not able fully to express his political beliefs through the party. Since then he has been acting as an independent deputy.
