Nicosia, Cyprus. Parliament will not vote on proposed laws to change the framework governing authorities’ access to private communications until after May’s parliamentary election, Akel MP Aristos Damianou said on Thursday. The House legal committee agreed the matter cannot be resolved before parliament dissolves in three weeks.
Legal committee delays plenary vote
Weekly sessions of the House legal committee had been held to seek passage for plans which, if approved, would more easily facilitate the state’s access to private communications. Damianou said on social media that committee members agreed the issue should remain under discussion and would not be brought to a plenary session with the current composition of parliament.
Government bill and proposed amendment
Two weeks ago, the government submitted a bill providing that decisions to access private communications would be taken by the Cyprus intelligence service chief, who would then inform a three-member committee within 72 hours of a decision to monitor an individual’s private communications. Disy, the largest party in parliament, has since said it will table an amendment to reinsert a requirement for the authorities to obtain a court warrant before accessing private communications.
Earlier proposals and penalties
Previous government plans had foreseen that the attorney-general would have authority to issue written approval to intercept private communications, but those proposals have been dropped. Other committee sessions also heard that anyone found to have conducted unlawful surveillance could face up to 10 years in prison.
Constitutional threshold and Article 17
The plans require 38 votes rather than a simple majority because they entail an amendment to Article 17 of the Republic of Cyprus’ constitution. Article 17 states that “every person has the right to respect for, and to the secrecy of, his correspondence and other communication if such other communication is made through means not prohibited by law”.
What changes, if any, do you think should be required before authorities can access private communications?
