Address by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the Conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) on: "Fighting Corruption, Defending Democracy: The Role of National Parliaments" - 27 May 2022
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Anita Demetriou, addressed the opening of the Conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE CSCE) on the theme: "Fighting Corruption, Defending Democracy: The Role of National Parliaments", hosted by the House of Representatives, on 27 and 28 May 2022, at the initiative of the Vice-President of the C.S.O.S.
Welcoming the participants to the Conference, Ms. Demetriou underlined that Parliaments have an essential and important role to play in combating corruption, which is a top concern for citizens and young people in particular. As guarantors of citizens' rights and interests, Ms Demetriou stressed, Parliaments must effectively exercise their oversight role to strengthen democratic institutions and promote good governance, transparency and accountability, thus regaining their credibility.
Ms Demetriou highlighted the disastrous consequences of corruption for society, social cohesion and the rule of law, linked, among other things, to the breakdown of the credibility of institutions and the rise of populism, and stressed the importance of the role of international organisations active in the fight against corruption.
The fact that no country is immune to corruption, the President said, is no reason why there should not be more active engagement with the issue in a way that is consistent with the multifaceted and complex nature of this phenomenon. More specifically in relation to Cyprus, Ms Demetriou noted that the House of Representatives has made efforts to correct existing weaknesses through the adoption of a Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament and the passing of a series of anti-corruption laws. This effort, the Speaker noted, was collective and was achieved through constructive dialogue and in a spirit of consensus and cooperation.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
For the full text of the Speaker's address in English click here.
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
