Nicosia, Cyprus. The House of Representatives on Thursday voted down a resolution calling on the government to disclose to parliament donations to the Social Support Fund, a charity previously chaired by the first lady. The motion was defeated 19-15.
Vote and disclosure request
The resolution, tabled by opposition party Akel, would have required the government to disclose the names of donors and the amounts donated to the relevant parliamentary committee for scrutiny.
Arguments for transparency
Independent MP Irini Charalambidou said the resolution sought to compel the government to practise transparency after both the attorney-general and the Personal Data Commissioner had sided with the administration in refusing to disclose the information.
Charalambidou said data on corporate contributions to the charity is being concealed despite some contributing companies having obtained multi-million state contracts, as cited in an Audit Office report. She said this prevents parliament from exercising oversight of the government.
Objections raised in parliament
Diko deputy Chrysis Pantelides said that while he supports transparency in principle, parliament cannot act in contradiction to a law it had passed earlier.
Government bills to abolish the fund
Earlier this month, the government tabled two bills in the House to scrap the Social Support Fund. One bill would abolish the charity, while the other would open a bank account at the Central Bank where all donations intended for students from needy families would be deposited.
The Akel resolution seeking donor disclosure was described as a final attempt before the government bills are enacted into law.
Proposed disclosure rules for future donations
Under the government bills, donors giving more than €20,000 would be required to provide written authorisation for disclosure of their name and the amount. For donations of less than €20,000, the donor’s name would remain undisclosed.
Do you think parliament should have access to donor identities and amounts for all contributions to the Social Support Fund?