Nouris to propose single referendum on local government reform

Interior Minister Nicos Nouris said on Tuesday he planned to table a proposal for a referendum to be held on local authority reform whose discussion has been dragging on for years amid opposition from political parties and certain communities.

Opposition parties wanted referendums to be held at each community to decide whether they wanted the reform, which entails mergers and the reduction of municipalities from 30 to 17.

Parties said the referendums would take place after passage of the reform bills, which essentially meant scuppering the entire effort.

The government disagreed with the notion of having referendums, but eventually agreed that if that would be the case, then there should be only one across the Republic and not many community-based polls.

Nouris sought the opinion of the attorney-general whether the parties’ intention was constitutional and how would that affect the legislation’s implementation.

“The attorney-general … informed me, among others, that it is not possible to hold referendums after the approval of the bill in question into law because this would place the implementation of the law’s entire set of provisions into doubt,” the minister said.

Out of respect for the majority of parties, Nouris said he decided to recommend to the cabinet on Wednesday to hold one referendum across the Republic to decide the future of the proposed reforms.

The referendum will take place, if agreed, together with the parliamentary elections on May 30.

Nouris said he has already informed parties of his intention.

The minister said referendums were not discussed in the constitution but were governed by legislation, which authorised the cabinet to decide but it must also be approved by parliament.

“You cannot put to the people a law that has been approved. What the people should be asked … is whether they want the reform to go ahead.”

The provisions of the law are crystal clear, he said; the response should be a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’.