THE HOUSE of Representatives was yesterday filled with people spanning all ages for the first joint meeting of the Parliament of the Elderly and the Cyprus’ Children’s Parliament.The group has adopted as their motto the Greek saying: “Give me your knowledge, I’ll give you my strength”. This was no surprise, said the House’s President, Yiannakis Omirou “as it emphasises the need for better collaboration and solidarity among people, irrespective of age”. The meeting was held in the context of the European Year for Active Ageing and Intergenerational solidarity. The aim is to create “a Europe friendly to all ages, where all members of the public can enjoy equal rights irrespective of age, being active in society,” Omirou said... Read on

HOUSE president Yiannakis Omirou yesterday urged deputies to pay their traffic fines while Greens’ MP Giorgos Perdikis suggested ‘naming and shaming’ those who have not paid up.The issue was discussed in a party leaders’ meeting.Traffic fines and parliamentary immunity were pushed to the forefront again when it emerged that DISY MP Andreas Pitsillides had amassed just over €1,000 in fines between 2008 and 2011, before being elected.“There has to be a procedure of informing [people] so that those who don’t want to abide by the law stand out from the remaining deputies,” said Perdikis, adding that unfortunately he was not able to convince the party leaders and representatives of this... 6 comments

YIANNAKIS Omirou has been re-elected president of the Movement of Social Democrats EDEK.Omirou submitted his candidacy for a new term during the party’s procedure held yesterday at the party’s offices in Nicosia. No other candidacy was submitted for the position. On May 5 and 6, EDEK will hold its 12th congress, in order to elect the deputy president and two vice presidents... 1 comment

HOUSE president Yiannakis Omirou handed over €29,500 to Greece’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Vassilis Papaioannou yesterday, collected by members of parliament to help Greece. “I hope that this difficult period will be overcome in Greece and in Cyprus and that we’ll be able to look to the future with optimism,” said Omirou. Papaioannou thanked him on behalf of the Greek parliament... 5 comments

MEMBERS of parliament should simply pay their fines, former Attorney-general Alecos Markides said yesterday, adding his weight to an ongoing argument after one former MP was excused from paying traffic fines by the president.“It’s not worth it, they should just pay the fine,” Markides said. “I don’t understand why he went to ask a favour for €900,” he added.Markides was referring to former DISY MP Andreas Themistocleous, who was granted a pardon by President Demetris Christofias, backed by Attorney-general Petros Clerides, after amassing €900 worth of traffic fines during his term, in addition to eight points on his licence. A court order was also served against him after he failed to pay the fines... 6 comments

 MELODRAMA marked yesterday’s session of the plenum, with the House eventually giving the nod to the budget of state broadcaster CyBC.The approval comes with strings attached, however. Legislators have crossed off seven twelfths of the funds allotted to the CyBC so that come May, the channel will once again be forced to bring the begging bowl to parliament to ask for the release of the remaining amounts.The restrictions mean that the state broadcaster cannot hire new staff or make promotions.But the released cash will enable the CyBC to continue paying in full all its employees, and ensures that the channel will broadcast as planned the summer Olympics, the Eurovision song contest and the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship... 7 comments

THE FOUR minority opposition parties yesterday agreed to join forces and prepare a policy declaration ahead of next February’s presidential elections. The leaders of DIKO, EDEK, EVROKO and the Greens agreed to establish a coordinating body that will formulate a manifesto including proposals from all four minority parties on how to get Cyprus out of the “multiple crises” it is going through. DIKO leader Marios Garoyian said it was too early to tell whether they could agree on who the person to implement the manifesto should be, noting that this would become clearer in May after the manifesto is complete. His party has not ruled anything out or closed any doors yet, he added. ... 2 comments

THE HOUSE last night enacted legislation extending the period for the partial write-off of interest and penalties on overdue tax.A law passed late last year afforded a waiver of interest and penalties in excess of five per cent of the principal amount owed. The law applies to income tax, SDC tax, immovable property tax, stamp duty and capital gains tax for periods up to 31 December 2008. It applied to individuals and companies alike.That law was valid until the end of March 2012. The updated law, with the same provisions, that was passed yesterday extends the so-called “amnesty” period up to October 31 of this year... Read on