Newsroom
A fierce political dispute has ignited between former Transport Minister Yannis Karousos and current Minister Alexis Vafeadis following the recent tragedy in Limassol, with both officials pointing fingers over the state of electrical safety regulations in Cyprus.
At the heart of the controversy is a withdrawn electricity bill—a piece of legislation that, according to Karousos, could have prevented risks and strengthened safety regulations. Speaking on ANT1’s Mera Mesimeri, Karousos accused the current government of scrapping the bill without justification a year ago and failing to introduce an alternative.
However, the Ministry of Transport swiftly fired back, dismissing the former minister’s claims as political exploitation of human loss. In an official statement, the ministry argued that the bill was flawed and did not enhance safety, particularly as it would have stripped the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) of its exclusive right to conduct initial inspections of electrical installations.
Instead, the ministry assured that a revised version of the bill—which maintains the EAC’s inspection role for public safety—will be put out for public consultation within the next week, before proceeding for legal review.
“We have an obligation to be responsible and beneficial, especially in matters related to the safety of citizens. Human losses do not lend themselves to populism or political exploitation,” the ministry’s statement concluded.
With two ministers now locked in a heated exchange, the issue has taken center stage in Cyprus’ political arena, highlighting deeper questions about governance, responsibility, and whether legislative delays have left citizens at risk. As the public awaits the new bill’s progress, the debate over who should bear the blame is unlikely to subside anytime soon.
