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Government announces anti-corruption measures (Updated)

ΠΡΟΕΔΡΟΣ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑΣ – ΠΑΡΟΥΣΙΑΣΗ ΣΧΕΔΙΑΣΜΟΥ ΓΙΑ ΠΑΤΑΞΗ ΤΗΣ ΔΙΑΦΘΟΡΑΣ

The government on Friday announced a series of measures designed to fight corruption, which are based on the rule of law, transparency, and accountability.

The announcement came at a time when the government, and the political system in general, are facing public anger over recent revelations that suggested corruption in Cyprus runs deep.

“Our planning aims in the best possible reinforcement of the legislative, political, financial, and social environment, through actions divided in three central pillars,” President Nicos Anastasiades said during a news conference with Justice Minister Emily Yiolitis.

The pillars, Anastasiades said, are prevention, education, and sensitisation, legislative measures, and supervision together with risk assessment.

The president who has been under fire himself over his alleged involvement in the controversial citizenship by investment programme, said the problem of fighting corruption was not only the executive’s.

Anastasiades said strong political will and cooperation on behalf of the legislature, the parties, non-government organisations, professional groups, and civil society in general was also necessary.

There was also a need for a strong and effective institutional framework, mutual respect between institutions, and transparency in probes to avoid smearing individuals.

The president said the media must also observe their code of ethics so as not to create the wrong impressions.

“I believe that with everyone’s cooperation and decisiveness, it would be possible to adopt the proposed measures as soon as possible so that we can create a strong network of prevention, protection, and fighting corruption.

Yiolitis went through a list of actions the government had implemented to help fight corruption, including a number of bills submitted, and still pending, in parliament.

She said they have tabled a bill raising the jail sentence for abuse of power by state officials, from three to seven years, in the cases a defendant seeks to make profit; a proposal to curb parliamentary immunity so that it will not cover MPs for offences that are unrelated with their work in the legislature; a bill regulating compliance to court decisions by state officials, providing for sanctions if found in violation; a bill setting up an independent authority against corruption, and one that affords protection to whistle blowers and leniency to those who cooperate with authorities in uncovering corruption.

“Today, our country is taking one more step in the admittedly difficult effort to stamp out corruption, confirming the government’s determination to fight a scourge that has been plaguing our country for decades,” she said.

Yiolits said emphasis will be put on educating people and making them active participants in the fight against corruption.

The ministries’ internal audit units will be boosted, and civil servants will undergo training on corruption prevention.

As part of the second pillar, the government plans to set up a national integrity service that will be authorised to carry out real-time audit on politicians’ and politically exposed persons’ asset declarations.

There is also a proposal to set up a commission to handle the recruitment and promotions of staff in local authorities and semi-governmental organisations, similar to the one that handles such matters in the civil service whose decisions are frequently cancelled by courts.

Yiolitis also announced the creation of a corruption fighting unit under the attorney-general, and drafting a code of ethics for all state officials.

It was also decided to publish state documents relating to tenders, as well as the findings or probe reports into corruption cases.

The minister will also set up a scientific council to monitor corruption and advise on the suitable actions to be put in place.

“We recognise the difficulty of the endeavour we have assumed,” Yiolitis said. “Corruption is a huge issue that spreads its tentacles across all structures of political, economic, and social life of each state. Consequently, I want to stress that to achieve this ambitious objective, it would take everyone’s mobilisation and cooperation, state, parliament, independent institutions, and above all, society.”

 

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