Aglantzia municipality on Tuesday is awaiting the announcement of the Supreme Court decision that will affect the consolidation of local governments.
The case is seen as a litmus test for other localities that have expressed dissatisfaction with the decision-making manner and outcomes of the proposed re-drawing of municipal boundaries, such as the Paphos Laona communities.
Mayor of Aglantzia Andreas Constantinou, speaking on CyBC’s morning programme, said the court is expected to announce its decision at 11:30 am. Aglantzia is the only municipality to date that undertook to challenge the matter in court, on the basis that the restructuring decision was taken unconstitutionally.
The municipality is positing a breach of legality between the state’s legislative and executive branches, stating the decision should have fallen under the ministry of interior, not Parliament, and that doing-away with the requirement for a referendum violates the EU framework for local governments, according to which constituents must be consulted.
The current unpopular proposal is for Aglantzia to be incorporated into the larger Nicosia municipality. Constantinou told CyBC that in a survey conducted by the municipality, 75 per cent of residents agreed with the community council’s stand to become part of a separate Athalassa municipality, clustered with Geri and Latsia, communities with which the mayor said Aglantzia is linked geographically and financially.
“The local councils are elected, not appointed,” Constantinou said, “and the political will of the voters ought to be respected.”
Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou, meanwhile, stated previously that changes to the proposals could not be made as there was no time and such a move would “open the bag of Aeolus.”
Ioannou said it was best to proceed with the reform as planned and resolve any practical difficulties arising in the course of time.
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