Two bills proposing reforms to the Law and the Audit Offices of the Republic are expected to be ready in September.
The changes are aimed at granting financial independence to both departments, with an oversight mechanism for the Audit Office.
The bills are in the final stages of preparation and are expected to be approved by the Council of Ministers by the end of September. If they are voted for by the Parliament, it is expected that they will require constitutional amendments to be implemented.
The government has defended the bills, stressing that the two institutions have not been “modernised” in 65 years.
Minister of Justice Marios Hartsiotis recently described the bills as the most critical and complex since the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus.
In a statement to Phileleftheros, Hartsiotis said that the bill concerning changes to the Law Office will not be put up for consultation, as it will undergo legal scrutiny by the institution itself. Regarding the bill on the Audit Office, he said, it will be put up for consultation to gather opinions, undergo legal scrutiny, and then be presented to Parliament.
‘Unprecedented attack’ against the Audit Office
The Audit Office’s reaction to the government’s proposed changes is expected to be fierce, as it has made it clear that it is not willing to accept any actions that would compromise its independence.
Marios Petrides, the spokesperson for the Audit Office, criticised the lack of consultation. “In this case, the government claims that this is a very serious constitutional reform, but not only have they not held a public consultation, they have not even had any discussion or exchange of views with our Office,” he said.
“International organisations,” Petrides added, “commend our Office for its work and its modernisation by adopting the newest quality management standards, the Commission calls on the government to take measures to remove the obstacles we face, and instead, the government is moving in the exact opposite direction.”
He noted: “What is being attempted is not modernisation but micromanagement,” warning that the proposed establishment of an oversight council would effectively abolish the Audit Office as an external watchdog.
He concluded, “If such a bill is indeed tabled, we intend to approach all parliamentary parties. We believe that everyone will realise that what is being attempted is unprecedented.”
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