AN ANTI-graft bill was the highlight of some 70 items of legislation tabled to the plenum yesterday during the body’s first session after the formation of the new government.
A bill drafted by DISY and vetted by the Attorney-general aims to make it mandatory for state officials to declare their assets upon taking office and provide regular updates to a watchdog committee.
It provides the legal ammunition paving the way to amend article 15 of the Constitution, which thus far prevented the publication of state officials’ assets by invoking an individual’s right to privacy.
Previous attempts at forcing state officials to make their assets known had failed after the Supreme Court deemed the laws unconstitutional.
Article 15 does not allow for the violation of privacy unless “such intervention is provided by law, and if it is necessary only for the protection of security, or public order, or public health, or public mores, or the protection of the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution to every person.”
Under the proposed amendment, an exception to the prohibition would be added, so that state officials’ assets may also be declared “in the interest of transparency in public life and to allow for effective measures to combat corruption.”
The item, approved by the Cabinet yesterday, is part of a batch of anti-corruption bills drafted by DISY in the run-up to the presidential elections.
Another bill concerns the accountability of state officials. In the event an independent committee of inquiry finds a state official responsible for actions or omissions during the exercise of his or her duties, the findings will be forwarded to the Attorney-general who will act on them.
Reports issued by independent commissions were thus far non-binding and had no legal force.
Also at the plenum yesterday, six DISY cadres were affirmed as MPs to fill President Nicos Anastasiades’ seat in the House and those of other deputies who were appointed ministers last week.
The new deputies are: Andreas Themistocleous, Maria Kyriacou, Nicos Nouris, Rikkos Mappourides, Prodromos Prodromou and Aristotelis Misos.
The six new MPs in the House yesterday (Christos Theodorides)