Nicosia, Cyprus. The government plans to submit legislation granting investigative powers to the Anti-Corruption Authority, the justice ministry’s permanent secretary told parliament’s legal affairs committee on Wednesday. The move signals support for a broad reform of the authority’s powers.
Government position
Permanent secretary of the justice ministry Giorgos Panteli made the announcement during a discussion on competing legislative proposals from ruling party Disy and opposition movement Alma, both of which seek to enable the authority to conduct criminal investigations.
Assistant attorney-general Savvas Angelides said the legal service supported a “positive and constructive” dialogue on the issue. He added that a comprehensive government bill would be preferable to piecemeal amendments.
Parliament timeline
Following the meeting, legal affairs committee chairwoman and Disy MP Fotini Tsiridou said parliament had given the executive branch until October to submit a draft bill.
“We gave a timeline so that, at least by October, we have before us something that would help improve the functioning of the independent authority,” she said.
Authority response
Anti-Corruption Authority chairman Haris Poyiatzis said the authority was ready to assume investigative powers, but warned that its chronic understaffing would need to be addressed.
Competing proposals
The debate focused on two legislative proposals currently before parliament.
The Disy proposal would allow the Anti-Corruption Authority to appoint independent criminal investigators from a list prepared by the Cyprus Bar Association and approved by the attorney-general.
Alma’s proposal would allow the authority to appoint criminal investigators directly whenever it identifies possible criminal offences.
Poyiatzis said the authority supported the Alma proposal, arguing that the Disy model would undermine its independence.