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According to an article by Pavlos Neophytou, a clash has emerged within the Democratic Rally (DISY) party over the process and timeline for enhancing the Independent Authority Against Corruption. The dispute unfolded between Nikos Tornaritis, chairman of the Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee, and Dimitris Demetriou, who heads the Institutions Committee. At the center of the disagreement are proposals aimed at improving the Authority’s financial independence and staffing levels.
The tension began over where the Authority’s issues should be discussed—within the Legal Affairs Committee or the Institutions Committee. This distinction matters because it influences the scope and pace of reforms. Mr. Tornaritis suggested giving the Legal Service 40 days to review recommendations for streamlining recruitment procedures and examining how similar bodies function across the European Union. Meanwhile, Mr. Demetriou, who had already submitted his own law proposal on October 31, argued this approach would cause unnecessary delays, potentially stretching into months.
Mr. Demetriou’s proposal focuses on transforming the Authority into a legal entity under public law to resolve issues of autonomy and resources. He expressed frustration that his bill was not immediately prioritized, highlighting the urgency of reforms. However, Mr. Tornaritis pushed back, stating that the Commission must proceed with thorough deliberation rather than hasty decisions.
A further point of contention arose when Mr. Tornaritis revealed that the DISY parliamentary group was unaware of Mr. Demetriou’s October proposal. He also emphasized his own efforts, including consultations with the Commissioner for Legislation and the Authority, to gather insights before moving forward. This lack of coordination underscores broader challenges within DISY regarding communication and strategic alignment on the issue. The debate took a sharper turn when Mr. Demetriou raised concerns that the Legal Service’s recommendations might not be ready within 40 days, as proposed by Mr. Tornaritis, but could take three to four months. Mr. Tornaritis rejected this concern, insisting that his timeline would be adhered to and reiterating that the Commission’s role is to deliver well-considered outcomes.
Despite their disagreements, both MPs acknowledged the critical need to strengthen the Authority. Mr. Tornaritis concluded the meeting by emphasizing that decisions must ensure the Authority is better equipped financially and with adequate staff to effectively combat corruption.
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