In the Cypriot Parliament, sometimes the antics are hard to miss. Often, when they’re not openly mocking the citizens, they attempt to present themselves as achieving something worthwhile.
Yet, even in these cases, their efforts, despite the seriousness they try to convey, end up as a farce. A classic example is a bill recently submitted, aiming to legally limit the terms of MPs.
And they even made a big deal out of it, as if it were some revolutionary reform.
The bill, submitted by Marinos Moushiouttas on behalf of DEPA, proposes a constitutional amendment to limit MPs to three terms.
Before we delve into the core issue of term limits, let’s address the exception that comes with the proposal: party leaders are exempt!
It’s as if they’re crowned kings—entrenched in their “thrones” for life. And why, Mr. Moushiouttas?
What makes party leaders different from the rest? If I’ve understood your rationale correctly, the aim is to ensure the rotation of members in Parliament, thereby strengthening democratic institutions, refreshing political life, preventing corruption, and avoiding the abuse of power.
Refreshing political life with party leaders who never leave? Are they “saints,” incapable of engaging in corruption or abuse of power?
In fact, the Authority against Corruption is currently investigating cases involving a former President of the Republic, who was once a party leader, and another party leader.
Whether these accusations hold up will depend on the investigation. But the mere fact that allegations were made shows that no party leader should be excluded a priori. Besides, this exemption has a whiff of servility.
More importantly, though, the essence of the proposal lacks seriousness. A maximum of three terms!
Meanwhile, some parties (such as the Ecologists and EDEK) have already included in their statutes a limit of two terms—ten years in total, not the 15 years DEPA proposes as though it’s being innovative.
And even if the proposal passes and becomes a constitutional amendment, it doesn’t force parties that have adopted two-term limits to implement three.
The logic behind this proposal is laughable. When others have already adopted a two-term limit, proposing three is hardly groundbreaking. But there’s an even more serious reason that makes Moushiouttas’s proposal seem ridiculous.
It appears he has forgotten that in 2019, the Parliament, of which he was a member, passed a law limiting the President of the Republic to just two terms in office.
That means a maximum of ten years. The reasoning was presumably similar to that which DEPA claims for its proposed bill.
How can anyone take Moushiouttas’s proposal seriously when the Legislative Authority has already determined that the President can serve only ten years, even if he or she is the best President the country has ever had, while MPs are deemed fit to serve three five-year terms?
This bill becomes even more farcical when one considers that the President of the United States can serve only two terms—each of four years. Think about it: a “leader of the free world” must step down after eight years, presumably because it’s believed that any further contributions would require fresh perspectives.
Yet, the “geniuses” of the Cypriot Parliament believe they should be eligible for re-election for 15 years! Apparently, they think their wisdom is so invaluable that Cyprus would suffer without them if they had to leave after ten years!
Of course, you might say that even with a two-term limit, once MPs leave Parliament, they’ll just seek election or appointment to other positions. After all, recycling is a hallmark of Cypriot politics.
For instance, Tornaritis, after 25 years in Parliament, sought to be elected mayor. And Kadis, after three terms as a minister, moved on to become a European Commissioner!
