Parties agree allocation of House committee seats 

Far-right party Elam was given the chair of the ad hoc House committee on demographics on Thursday, as parties came to an agreement over the allocation of committees.

Demographics had been a subcommittee of the House labour committee and was ‘upgraded’ to ad hoc and given to Elam.

Ruling Disy and main opposition Akel got five committee chairs each, Diko got three, and the Green Party, Dipa, and Edek, received one each.

The agreement, taken by parties in the morning, is set to be formally ratified at a special session of the House plenum next week.

The decision to grant Elam the chair on demographics has prompted criticism, because the party is openly anti migration.

There is speculation that Elam were ‘awarded’ the chair of a parliamentary committee in return for their having backed Disy’s Annita Demetriou for House President, ensuring her election.

According to reports, Disy has clinched the legal affairs, foreign, ethics, health, and commerce committees.

Main opposition party Akel got labour, interior affairs, human rights, refugees, and agriculture. Diko grabbed three committees, including the crucial one on finance.

Meanwhile in a ceremonial gesture Thursday at the plenum, the House President spoke about the life and work of the late former MPs Vassos Lyssarides, Nicos Rolandis and Rina Katselli.

MPs then held a minute’s silence in their honour.