The Justice Ministry is racing to implement emergency legislation regulating traditional Easter bonfires, with just 61 days remaining before the holiday, amid strong opposition from local authorities reluctant to oversee the new controls.
Justice and Public Order Minister Marios Hartsiotis will present the draft bill to the cabinet tomorrow, seeking urgent parliamentary approval.
The legislation aims to regulate “lampratzia“, traditional Easter bonfires, for the first time by establishing safety requirements and permit procedures, according to ministry documents reviewed by Phileleftheros.
Local authorities have strongly opposed the proposed measures. “It is impossible for local governments to undertake policing and control of the bonfires. This is not our responsibility. It’s a matter for the Police and the State,” said Andreas Vyras, president of the Union of Municipalities.
The draft law would require advance permits for lighting bonfires and restrict preparation to eight days before Easter Sunday. It would prohibit the use of flammable materials other than unprocessed wood and mandate local authority inspection of materials and sites.
In Limassol, young people have already begun collecting wood for the bonfires, as authorities scramble to dismantle unauthorised fires hours before lighting.
Violators could face up to three years in prison or fines up to 5,000 euros, or both, for unauthorised bonfires or using prohibited materials such as explosives, fireworks, or engine oil.
The legislation was prepared by the Interior Ministry and the Law Commissioner in collaboration with police explosives experts, seeking to preserve the decades-old tradition while ensuring public safety.
Local authorities would be responsible for designating appropriate locations, specifying material quantities, and determining site dimensions to prevent fire spread, according to the draft law.
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