Legislation to restrict parliamentary immunity to official duties only has returned to the fore as the Attorney General moves to strip protection from lawmakers facing criminal allegations.
The 2021 bill, which would amend Article 83 of the Constitution, aims to clarify that MPs are only protected for their “speech, vote, and actions” performed during their parliamentary work.
The issue has gained fresh urgency following domestic violence allegations against DISY MP Nikos Sykas and a corruption probe involving former EDEK president Marinos Sizopoulos.
Under the proposed changes, MPs would remain immune from prosecution for opinions expressed or votes cast in Parliament. However, the amendment specifies that immunity would not serve as a blanket shield for private criminal acts, ensuring the law covers only what is necessary for “unhindered” parliamentary activity.
The push to define these limits follows a request by Attorney General George Savvides to the Supreme Court to lift the immunity of Nikos Sykas. The DISY MP was reported to police by his partner for alleged physical and psychological abuse at a hotel in Athens.
Although the partner later withdrew the complaint, police investigations continue.
Sykas has not objected to the request, though he indicated he wishes to argue his position before the court. Legal observers expect the court to lift his immunity to allow authorities to complete their investigation and interview the MP.
A second case involves Marinos Sizopoulos, who was named in a report by the Anti-Corruption Authority. The Law Office is currently studying the case file to decide whether to submit a similar request to the Supreme Court to lift his immunity.
The legislation has a long history, first appearing in 2019 before being withdrawn in 2020. It was later redrafted during Emily Yiolitis’s tenure as Justice Minister, following consultations with the Attorney General.
The bill was formally submitted to Parliament in January 2021 but had remained dormant until the recent scandals.
In his explanatory report, Savvides argued that the bill brings Cyprus in line with modern standards of the rule of law by defining the scope of immunity without infringing on an MP’s freedom of expression or vote.
