Cyprus approves reforms in Attorney-General and Auditor General roles

The Cabined approved in principle a series of reforms to the institutions the Law Office of the Republic and the Audit Office, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis has said.

The reform of the Law Office provides the Attorney-General will continue to act as state’s Legal Counsel, while the Office of the General Public Prosecutor and Deputy Public Prosecutor will be established, whereas the Audit Office of the Republic will evolve into an Audit Council.

Letymbiotis added the reforms also include a fixed term both for the Attorney-General as well as the Public Prosecutor, adding that these reforms comply with the recommendations by various international institutions such as the European Commission reports on the rule of law and the Council of Europe’s GRECO.

These reforms, he added, require the amendment of the Constitution and certain fundamental articles pertaining to the competencies of the Attorney General.

The second reform concerns the modernisation of the Audit Office of the Republic which will be converted into an Audit Council, chaired by the Auditor-General, the Deputy Auditor General as Vice-chair and three members.

The amendments, Letymbiotis added also include defined terms for the Auditor General, the Deputy Auditor and the three council members. Currently both the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney-General as well as the Auditor-General and Deputy Auditor-General serve until their retirement.

“The promotion of a series of reforms aiming to modernise the state is necessary,” Letymbiotis said, recalling that these reforms were included in the administration programme of President Christodoulides and the announcements he made during the presentation of his priorities for 2024.

Furthermore, according to the Government Spokesperson, a third reform concerns the amendment of the legal framework concerning the pensions to state officials with two bills, one concerning the extension of retirement age from 60 years to 65 and the establishment of the option to renounce pension by a person who receives a posting as state official.

Moreover, the Cabinet decided to revoke the Cypriot citizenship granted to eight persons, in the context of the now defunct Cyprus Investment Progamme.

(Source: CNA)