Barbs fly but state-backed loans get nod
In a fireworks-laden session, the House passed a law giving the state the nod to guarantee up to €1 billion in loans to businesses and self-employed persons stricken by the coronavirus-related ...
House approves scheme for overdue taxes to be paid in installments
Parliament on Thursday approved a scheme allowing people stricken by the pandemic with overdue taxes, to repay them with installments.
The proposal had been tabled by Diko MP Christiana Erotokritou, ...
Poll tips ruling Disy to win May elections
Far right party Elam and the Green party rise to fourth and fifth places respectively, according to the results of a survey conducted on behalf of private Ant1 television.
The ...
Our View: A sad reflection on the lengths parties prepared to go for votes
In the end, the fear of being blamed by businesses and the self-employed of depriving them of much-needed cash liquidity persuaded the opposition parties to end the silly games about ...
House rejects single referendum on municipal reforms
Parliament on Thursday rejected a government proposal for holding a single island-wide referendum on the planned merger of municipalities as part of a drive to reform local government.
The decision ...
About-face by parties on state-backed loans, will vote next week
In a turnaround, opposition parties – particularly Diko – on Thursday agreed that a government bill on state-backed loans will go to the plenum for a vote on April 22 just before the ...
Employers slam parliament for kicking bill for state-backed loans down the road (updated)
Employers expressed disappointment and warned of dire consequences on Tuesday after learning that a government bill for state-backed loans will not be discussed by the current parliament, which is set ...
Nouris calls opposition parties ‘deniers of progress’ in reforms row
Interior Minister Nicos Nouris said opposition parties were “deniers of progress” after bills providing for the comprehensive reform of local administration appeared to be headed for the shelf on Tuesday.
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Law for co-op suits extended, deadline for tax returns moved to September
Parliament on Thursday amended a law allowing for civil lawsuits to be filed against former officers or executives of the now-defunct cooperative bank.
By a unanimous vote, following a terse ...
Penalties for people-smugglers massively hiked
Parliament has voted to bolster the law against people smugglers and educational institutions which facilitate “sham” students’ entry into the Republic.
Perhaps the most notable change is that now people ...
Parliament plans to pass pay-as-you-throw law before elections
Parliament plans to pass a pay as you throw bill for rubbish management before the May 30 elections so that it can be put to force six months later by the ...
MPs to decide next month whether to publish co-op PEP list
Parliament will decide during one of its next sessions, possibly next month, on whether to publish a list with the names of politically exposed persons (PEPs) with bad debts at ...
Parties cross swords, fail to pass House resolution ahead of Cyprus talks
Political parties crossed swords on Friday at the House plenum on the Cyprus problem and on what the Greek Cypriot side’s stand ought to be at next month’s ...
House votes to scrap Grains Commission
Parliament on Thursday voted to scrap the Grains Commission, a semi-governmental entity that had been running up big deficits in recent years.
Under another bill, the competences and staff of ...
House approves law for tax breaks for landlords renting to businesses
Parliament on Thursday passed two items of legislation granting tax breaks to landlords who voluntarily reduce their rents to businesses financially stricken by the coronavirus-related restrictions.
The first bill provides ...
Coronavirus: officials say it would be irresponsible to obtain non EU-approved jabs
Officials on Thursday called it irresponsible and risky for Cyprus to potentially acquire supplies of Covid-19 vaccine not licensed by EU authorities, and that the island has no choice but ...
Authors of anti-corruption White Paper urge MPs to adopt proposals
Cyprus’ legislation on asset statements by politically exposed persons (PEP) is a ruin which has not been restored, experts who have drafted a White Paper on the issue said on ...
Code of ethics for MPs passed by plenum
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a code of ethics for its members, providing for the naming and shaming of violators but no tangible sanctions otherwise.
The bill passed ...
House passes Okypy and HIO budgets, securing Gesy finances
Parliament on Thursday passed the 2021 budgets for two agencies that are key components of the national health scheme (Gesy), also giving the nod to the balance sheets of several semi-governmental ...
Law passed levying 0.4% on all immovable property sales
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a law levying a 0.4 per cent tax on all sales of immovable property, the proceeds of which to go toward supporting Greek Cypriot ...
New bill lays out revised criteria for naturalisation
Basic knowledge of the language, history and culture of Cyprus will be among the new stricter criteria to be fulfilled before the granting of Cypriot citizenship, it emerged on Saturday.
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Edek and Citizens Alliance ask for more time to propose changes to MPs code of ethics
Edek and Citizens’ Alliance MP Giorgos Lillikas have asked for a week’s postponement to the vote on the parliamentary code of ethics to give them time to propose and ...
MPs vote to publish PEP list (Updated)
Lawmakers on Thursday passed a resolution authorising the House President to make public a much-awaited list of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) with bad loans.
The resolution passed with a majority, ...
Budget passes with narrow margin (Updated)
With 29 votes for and 26 against, the House on Thursday passed the revised state budget for 2021, unlocking hundreds in millions earmarked for coronavirus relief to businesses and households.
The ballot went ...