The final decisions[/B] regarding the bills that will be submitted for voting in the Plenary regarding the Reform of Local Government,[/B] are expected to be taken by the Home Affairs Committee next Monday,[/B] following a long period of debate on the issue by this and the previous House.
It is expected to complete the consideration of some 85 amendments submitted by the parties and whose consideration began in previous sessions.
The Home Affairs Committee has recommended that the bills be put to a vote in the House on Thursday, February 24, with a request to the Conference of Chiefs that there be no prospect or possibility of postponement of the items.
The thorny issues expected to be clarified in the session on Monday, are the issue of mergers and clustering of municipalities and communities, whether or not to hold referendums on the reform and issues relating to how deputy mayors are elected. Also, as reported after last Thursday's meeting by Committee Chairman Aristos Damianou, a scenario for a possible increase in the number of municipal councillors was raised and is being discussed.
He also expressed the assessment that the large volume of amendments has been covered and the main provisions of the Bills have been clarified, while all open issues will be concluded or taken in the form of Amendments to the Plenary Session of the House.
According to statements made in the previous days by MPs, DISY is in favour of the creation of 17 municipalities, while it believes that holding referendums thwarts the reform of local self-government.
AKEL[/B] considers, among other things, that the provision for holding local referendums should remain as it is in the Bill, as well as the table with the number of municipalities, provided for in the Bill, for 18 new municipality formations, plus 2 pre-existing ones.
The DIKO had expressed satisfaction with the adoption of the party's proposals by the Interior Committee in the text to be submitted to the plenary session and regarding a proposal to create a municipal division in Ayia Fyla. At the same time, he expressed satisfaction with the positive approach for the establishment of an Independent Authority for Service Issues, with responsibility for the recruitment, promotion and advancement of municipal and community employees.
ELAM[/B] expresses as a general philosophy that local government should not lose direct contact with the citizen and that huge municipalities should not be created in which the citizen is lost.
The EDEK is in favour of holding local referendums.
The DPA developed its scenario for 14 demoi, and said it is open to a smaller number, noting that the party favours fewer demoi and more clusters of communities.
The Ecologist-Citizen's Movement has submitted an amendment to create an Akamas municipality, consisting of Pegeia and some of the villages in the area, which are directly related to the National Park and the Natura site.
It should be noted that in order to pass the local government reform, the Parliament agreed to postpone local government elections scheduled for last December, while extending the term of office of existing local leaders until May 2024.
Source: KYPE
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