THE GOVERNMENT yesterday decided to subsidise rent increases for businesses operating in government industrial estates while decreasing pension allowances for ex-community leaders. Speaking from the Presidential Palace, deputy government spokesman Victoras Papadopoulos announced a series of measures adopted by cabinet yesterday, starting with a 10 per cent reduction in pension allowances of former community leaders. “The reduction is part of efforts to consolidate public finances and due to the fact that community heads are otherwise employed and their retirement is covered by other pension plans such as, for example, the social insurance fund, and others,” said Papadopoulos... 5 comments

THE GOVERNMENT and parliamentary parties agreed on the need to exit the bailout programme as soon as possible yesterday though showed little sign of consensus on how to do so exactly. Speaking after a lengthy session of the National Council, a body initially set up to advise the President on the Cyprus problem, government spokesman Christos Stylianides said the main focus of yesterday’s meeting was the economic situation. Members were also briefed on Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides’ recent contacts in relation to the Cyprus problem.   Those present confirmed that the priority right now was the handling of the economic crisis, though this did not mean the Cyprus problem was being relegated to second place, said Stylianides. ... 9 comments

Talks to unify football said to be stalled TALKS to unify football on the island for the first time since 1955 appear to have broken down between the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) and their Turkish Cypriot counterparts after a scheduled meeting at FIFA headquarters in March never took place.Head of the CFA, Costakis Koutsokoumnis and head of the Turkish Cypriot Football Association (TCFA), Hasan Sertoglu met at the beginning of the year in an attempt to see an all-island league for the first time since 1955. The two associations were due to meet at FIFA headquarters in March to try and finalise a deal, but no such meeting took place, indicating a stalemate had been reached during talks... 1 comment

THE CABINET yesterday approved a Code of Conduct and Ethics for public workers, authorising the finance minister to take the necessary steps to ensure its implementation. Introduction of the new code is aimed at improving the service provided to citizens and the image of the public sector by describing in a clear and simple manner the responsibilities, obligations and expected behaviour of public servants throughout the public service and across all ranks.  Last week, President Nicos Anastasiades announced a series of measures aimed at restoring the public’s trust in government following the banking fiasco. He set June 15 as the final deadline for completing all outstanding bills that parliament will need to approve. ... 15 comments

THE CABINET yesterday decided to freeze controlled rents for the next two years in light of the deteriorating economic situation in Cyprus. Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou said the decision to block rent increases from April 22, 2013 until April 21, 2015 for “controlled areas”, was taken as a result of the impact of the economic crisis, particularly on small and medium-sized businesses who rent property, shops or offices. Under Cypriot rent laws, landlords can increase rents by a maximum of 14 per cent every two years. ... 14 comments

THE government yesterday appointed an investigating commission to look into the reasons of the island’s economic collapse, it was announced yesterday.The commission is made up of former Supreme Court and International Criminal Court judge Giorgos Pikis, and former Supreme Court judges Panayiotis Kallis and Yiannakis Constantinides.Undersecretary to the president Constantinos Petrides said the committee would have broad terms of reference to cover all decisions, actions or omissions on all levels.“From political decisions, to the decisions made by bank boards and regulators and anyone else the committee deems fit to investigate,” Petrides said.The commission will investigate possible criminal, civil and political offences... 9 comments

THE CABINET is to swiftly appoint an investigative commission to seek out those responsible for the economic crisis, the government spokesman said yesterday.The probe’s scope and mandate will be determined by the Cabinet in the coming days - perhaps even today - Christos Stylianides told newsmen.“The President’s position is that the commission shall investigate possible criminal, civil and political offences,” he said.“This commission will be set up in order to investigate all the phenomena that have brought us to this point.”President Nicos Anastasiades first announced his intention to launch an investigation during a televised address to the nation on Monday night. The investigation would have a “clear and wide-ranging mandate,” the President said... 14 comments

GOVERNMENT critics took advantage of International Women’s Day yesterday to criticise President Nicos Anastasiades for the lack of women in his new cabinet.AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said women should not be limited to a “secondary” role but should be given the title role.Expressing AKEL’s disappointment at the lack of a female presence in the cabinet, he said “this omission is certainly not covered by the promise that there will be female junior ministers”.“In conditions of worsening economic and social problems, like the present, it is obvious that women are the most vulnerable victims,” he added.Head of the Socialist Women’s Movement, Roulla Mavronicola was equally critical... 2 comments

WE WERE overjoyed to see our dear Fuhrer, Nice Nik, sweep triumphantly into power last Sunday ending the Terrible Tof tyranny and freeing us from the AKEL yoke that had threatened to turn Kyproulla into the Albania of the Mediterranean.Communist misrule is over, the People’s Republic of Kyproulla has given way to the First Reich of Zypern, the red hordes will soon go home and the comrade can no longer cause us harm, having retreated to his Kellaki dacha, to produce red wine vinegar for his friends and family. There is also a selfish reason for our joy. In the previous two presidential elections our establishment had backed candidates that lost and there was a danger that our support would be viewed as the kiss of death, confirmation that a candidate is a loser... 5 comments

PRESIDENT NICOS Anastasiades yesterday vowed to be unrelenting against acts of corruption and bad governance and called on his newly formed cabinet to abide by a code of conduct which would make them accountable to the people.In his first cabinet meeting, the new president called on his ministers to act “with courage, resolve, consistency” and sign a code of conduct, to be published, which would render them responsible and accountable to the people on a daily basis... 5 comments