Anastasiades calls on parties to stop using municipal reform for political gain

President Nicos Anastasiades called on all parties to stop seeking political gains by insisting on a higher number of municipalities as part of local authority reform as that would only defeat the purpose of upgrading the system.

“It is inconceivable to insist on numbers, which in essence will not bring about reform but regression,” Anastasiades said in a speech during the union of municipalities annual general meeting on Monday.

The president said the effort was to cut the number of existing municipalities to achieve savings and upgrade services through devolution.

“What is important was to reach the local administration levels of local governments in other modern European countries.”

The government initially wanted to cut municipalities by half to 15. It then agreed to 17 but during discussions in parliament, parties seemed to be going for 20 or 21, solely for political reasons.

Anastasiades urged them to give up their “kingdoms”, arguing that no party had the luxury to fight to keep a local authority.

He said the public wanted reform and ignoring them for the sakes of preserving their possessions, would not achieve better services and quality of life.

“Consequently, it is to the benefit of the parties, which at the end of the day, will be held accountable if we fail in the reform.”

Echoing the president, Interior Minister Nicos Nouris censured political parties for insisting on increasing the number of municipalities solely based on making political gains.

Nouris reiterated that the parliament was at the final stages of taking one of the most important decisions involving the creation of new local entities.

“Mergers were not an end in themselves for the government,” the minister said. “To us, the objective is for every new entity to have certain characteristics that are based on scientific criteria.”

Nouris said it was not conceivable after years of discussions, studies, and exchange of arguments to have recommendations calling for preservation of certain entities that are not in a position to sustain their existence under the current regime.

“It is not possible to have proposals for selective and unsubstantiated mergers with municipalities and communities that have nothing to offer, just to make temporary political or party gains,” the minister said.

The government bills envisage financial independence, with the state grant rising to €117 million from the current €71m.

The new municipalities will be given authorities currently held by district administrations and their role in exercising social policy will be boosted.

Among them is the ability to operate shelters, kindergartens, elderly homes.

They will also have their own municipal police with specific powers.

“Transferring these and many other authorities is perhaps the most important from the foundation of the Republic of Cyprus,” Nouris said.